Rebecca Rhynhart was the Top Vote-Getter in Philly's 2017 Elections
(Photo: Rebecca Rhynhart)
After the 2017 primary election, there was a weird, and frankly pretty sexist, line of commentary out there that said Rebecca Rhynhart's blowout primary win over four-term incumbent Controller Alan Butkovitz was really due to Larry Krasner's coattails despite Rhynhart winning more votes than Krasner.
Read more"Liberal Wards" Keep Growing Their Influence in City Elections
The big question coming out of the 2017 municipal primaries is whether the results, which were a total black eye for the traditional Democratic Party machine, should be seen as a one-time fluke, or whether they're part of an ongoing trend that spells trouble for other incumbents in the 2018 and 2019 election cycles.
Read moreBob Brady Says "Traditional Wards" Got Out-Hustled By Liberal Wards. Which Wards Are Those?
(DCC Chairman Bob Brady is a very traditional guy. Photo: Rep. Bob Brady)
In the course explaining away the Democratic City Committee's ultra-weak performance in the municipal primaries this Tuesday, chairman Bob Brady told Dave Davies of WHYY that the "traditional wards" were simply out-hustled by "liberal wards."
Read moreLarry Krasner's Coattails Don't Explain Rebecca Rhynhart's Sweep
(What a rout looks like. | Map: Jonathan Tannen, Econsult Solutions)
As the news media and political observers have started parsing this week's electoral surprises, particularly in the Democratic Controller primary, an unfortunate narrative has begun to emerge in some quarters--originating with comments from Controller Alan Butkovitz on WHYY--that Rebecca Rhynhart was swept to victory on the coattails of D.A. primary winner Larry Krasner. It's worth putting this idea to bed quickly, as it's not only sexist, but totally wrong.
Read moreEd Rendell Endorses Term Limits for City Council, Row Offices
Former Governor Ed Rendell is on something of a 'No Fucks Left to Give' tour lately.
Read moreLarry Krasner Wins Our Ranked Choice Poll of the District Attorney Primary
The results of our 'ranked choice' poll of Philly's Democratic primary for District Attorney are in, and Larry Krasner won decisively, garnering 53% of the first-choice votes in a 7-way contest.
Read morePetition: Indicted Philly D.A. Seth Williams Must Resign Immediately
(Photo: Matt Rourke | Associated Press)
Federal authorities issued a 23-count indictment against incumbent Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams this week, with charges ranging from bribery, to Medicare fraud, to stealing from his own mother (!!).
The charges, summarized here by the Inquirer, accuse Williams of padding his six-figure, taxpayer-funded salary with modestly-luxurious gifts and vacations paid for by people seeking favors from his office.
Investigators accused the city’s cash-strapped top prosecutor of repeatedly selling his influence and offering to intervene in a case on behalf of one wealthy benefactor. In exchange, they said, Williams accepted luxury trips to foreign locales, a used Jaguar convertible, and other gifts including a $205 Louis Vuitton necktie and a Burberry watch.
When that was not enough to cover the costs of his lush life, Williams allegedly resorted to stealing from his own mother, draining more than $20,000 of Social Security and pension income intended to pay for her nursing home to cover his mortgage and electricity bills.
While we don't know yet how this case will turn out, the available facts provide more than enough evidence to conclude that Williams is incapable of fulfilling his duties as District Attorney with the public's trust, and he must resign immediately.
Because of his well-documented financial problems, it's likely Williams intends to hunker down and remain in office through January 2018 in order to keep collecting a paycheck, despite having totally forfeited any claims to having the good judgment and integrity that the District Attorney must have. Philly can't wait until 2018 to restore integrity to the District Attorney's office.
That's unacceptable. Philly can't wait until 2018 to restore integrity to the District Attorney's office, and Williams needs to step aside right away.
If you agree, sign and share the petition to turn up the pressure on Williams to resign immediately.
Is There Going to Be a 'Trump Bump' In Philly's Off-Year Primaries?
(Button wall at the Board of Elections | Photo: Jon Geeting)
Ever since Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States last November, those of us in the business of engaging our fellow citizens in the glamorous work of municipal politics have been living in the best of times (at least in one sense.)
Read moreDA Candidate Joe Khan Speaks on Reforming Civil Asset Forfeiture
At Philadelphia Magazine, David Gambacorta has an important read on the state of play of civil asset forfeiture reform in Harrisburg, where a well-intentioned bill has been watered down to the point of near-meaninglessness.
Read moreBrady: Seth Williams Probably Not Getting Dems' Support in 2017
Incumbent District Attorney Seth Williams got some more bad news today as Congressman Bob Brady, chair of the Democratic City Committee, told Chris Brennan that the party is unlikely to endorse Williams as the party's nominee in the 2017 primary.
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