City GOP Ticket Takes Two Hits
T HE P UB L I C R E CO R D
8
POLS on the STREET BY JOE SHAHEELI HILE THE BIG money is being spent in the Democratic primary race, its Republican counterpart has undergone some eye-catching twists. Republican City Committee’s endorsed candidate for mayor, North Philadelphia’s 16th Ward Leader Daphne Goggins, dropped out of the race in the last week before the filing deadline. She had drawn unwelcome attention after it was revealed that she is receiving disability payments for ongoing depression. That left the field to her challenger, attorney William Ciancaglini, who hails from
M A RC H 14 , 2019
W
South Philadelphia. By the Tuesday deadline for filing nominating petitions, Ciancaglini announced proudly to his friends, “I put my faith in all of you to help get me there. We have over 3,000 signatures!” So the Republicans will have a standard-bearer at the top of their ticket. The same cannot be said in the race for sheriff. The only Republican to announce for that office, Peter Wirs, failed to make 1,000. Wirs charged that was because RCC Chairman Mike Meehan had lobbied ward leaders to refrain from allowing Wirs to circulate petitions at their events. In response, Wirs wrote a letter to Republican State Committee Chairman Val DiGiorgio asking him to appoint a committee to investigate Meehan, a move that is authorized in the party’s bylaws. In his letter, Wirs cited a famous piece of Republican Party lore: “[Theodore Roosevelt’s] Secretary of State Elihu Root
Always Hard At Work for You! P H IL LY R E CO R D.C O M - 215 -755 -20 0 0
State Senator
Anthony Hardy Williams 8th Senatorial District
2901 ISLAND AVE. STE 100 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153 (215) 492-2980 FAX: (215) 492-2990 ---419 CHURCH LANE YEADON, PA 19050 (610) 284-7335 FAX: (610) 284-5955 6630 LINDBERGH BLVD.
2103 SNYDER AVENUE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19145 (215) 755-9185 FAX: (215) 952-3375 ---SENATE BOX 203008 HARRISBURG, PA 17120 ROOM: 11 EAST WING (717) 787-5970 FAX: (717) 772-0574
“Paid for with Pennsylvanian taxpayer dollars”
once asked [Philadelphia Republican leader] Boies Penrose why he was ruining the party by putting up a slate of candidates who were ‘stand-pat party hacks with no chance of winning.’ Penrose’s reply was, ‘Yes, but I'll preside over the ruins.’ Mike Meehan wants to rival Boies Penrose for presiding over the ruin of the Republican Party in Philadelphia.” Although Republicans are down 7-1 versus the Democrats in registration in Philadelphia, it is nevertheless not clear this is all Meehan’s fault. Even in the once-red suburbs, Republican affiliation is on the decline throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Challengers Face Challenges Galore Now that the petitions have been turned in begins a quiet but bloodthirsty backroom week of the campaign. Operatives of wellrun campaigns will pore over their rival’s petitions to find and challenge irreg-
Lanni Targets the 1st
ADDING to his amazing collection of Philadelphia campaign buttons, Lou Lanni added a new one: his own. Lanni claimed to have turned in 183 signature sheets for his Democratic primary race against Councilman Mark Squilla.
ularities, hoping to knock them off the ballot. Discrepancies that seem innocent in ordinary life are enough to disqualify a signature. First patients to undergo this MRI are mayoral challengers Alan Butkovitz and State Sen. Anthony Williams, who have claimed an opportunity to take on Mayor Jim Kenney. Butkovitz is all in, Williams more cautious. There is still time to drop off the ballot. Particularly under the gun will be challengers of incumbents in district Council races, of whom there is a host
Kevin J.
Jannie L. Blackwell
Boyle
District 3 City Hall, Room 408 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 686-3418, (215) 686-3419 FAX: (215) 686-1933
172nd Dist. 7420 Frankford Ave. Phila., PA 19136
215-331-2600
State Rep. Jason
State Senator
Dawkins District Office:
Sharif
Street
4667 Paul St. Philadelphia, PA 19124 (215) 744-7901 M.–Th.:8:30a.m.–5:00p.m. F.: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
1621 W. Jefferson Street Philadelphia, PA 19121
215-227-6161 Paid for with PA Tax Dollars
State Rep.
P: 215-849-6426
STATE REP MARY ISAACSON 175TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 610 N. SECOND STREET 215.503.3245
Rep.Maria P.
Donatucci D-185th District 2901 S. 19th St. Phila PA 19145 P: 215-468-1515 F: 215-952-1164
Representative
Angel Cruz
District Office 3503 ‘B’ St. 215-291-5643 Ready to Serve you
1st District City Hall Room 332
T: (215) 748-6712 F: (215) 748-1687
Phila PA 19148
AT YOUR SERVICE
Squilla
191st Leg. Dist. 6027 Ludlow St. Unit A Phila., PA 19139
310 W. Chelten Ave.
One Council district will see an unusual contest: between two incumbents, al-
Mark
McClinton
198th District
In 7th Council Dist.
beit in different offices. State Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Kensington) will take on Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez for her 7th Councilmanic District seat. He turned in 3,200 signatures on Tuesday, promising a battle royal in a district where political peace is often hard to come by. Cruz has been the 7th Ward leader for 30 years and a state legislator for nigh on 20 years, so his name recognition at least matches Quiñones Sánchez’s. He began his political career in City Hall as a staffer for Councilman Rick Mariano. In the House of Representatives, Cruz is Democratic chair of the Human Services Committee. He has served as president of the National (Cont. Page 11)
Councilman
Joanna E.
Youngblood
‘Cruzin’ for an Upset
State Rep.
Councilwoman
Rep. Rosita
this year. There is one notable exception, though: Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District) will be unopposed as neither of his two challengers rounded up 750 signatures to make the ballot. By next Wednesday, if all goes smoothly, we should know who is officially on the ballot. Then begins the third phase: the draw for ballot position.
215-686-3458/59 State Rep.
Donna
Bullock 195th Leg. Dist. 2835 W. Girard Ave Phila, PA 19130
T: (215) 684-3738 F: (215) 235-4629
Councilman At-Large
DEREK S. GREEN City Hall, Room 594 Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-686-3450 www.phlcouncil.com
City Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker 9th District
District Office 1538 E. Wadsworth Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19150 Phone: 215-686-3454 Fax: 215-685-9271. www.phlcouncil.com/CherelleParker
Facebook: CouncilwomanCherelleLParker Twitter: @CherelleParker9