The race is on to
replace Butkovitz

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

John Sabatina Jr. has a huge advantage in the upcoming special election in the 174th Legislative District.
"It’s heavily Democratic," he said of the district, "but I’m not going to take anything for granted because I have a Democratic edge. I’m running like I have significant competition."
How hard will he run?
"I’m going to run like somebody’s chasing me," he said.
The ward leaders last week unanimously endorsed Sabatina as the Democratic nominee in the March 14 election and in the May 16 primary.
The seat became vacant when Alan Butkovitz resigned to become city controller. The winner will serve the remaining 11 months of Butkovitz’s term and will have to run in the spring primary for a full two-year term.
Democratic ward leaders Chris Solomon (53rd), Butkovitz (54th), John Sabatina Sr. (56th) and Chris Drumm (63rd) gathered at a local restaurant last week to throw their support to the former assistant district attorney. Frank Conaway, Democratic leader in the 57th Ward, voted by proxy.
On Jan. 11, Sabatina officially announced his candidacy at Rhawnhurst Caterers in front of elected officials, committee people and members of the electricians and sprinkler fitters unions.
Sabatina, 35, an Emerson Street resident, has been the front-runner for the seat for the last year, since Butkovitz announced his candidacy for controller.
Lisa Deeley, Butkovitz’s longtime aide, had been mentioned as a possible candidate. But Butkovitz promised his support to Sabatina early on and indicated that he wanted Deeley to take a job in the controller’s office. She now heads the controller’s community outreach efforts.
The Republicans expect to officially select a candidate this week.
John Kline, an electrician from Castor Gardens, might run as an independent, then in the Democratic primary.
Sabatina is glad the special election was not called on the same day as the primary because he would have had to ask people to vote for him twice.
A lifelong Rhawnhurst resident, Sabatina attended Resurrection of Our Lord Elementary School and Father Judge High School. He has a business marketing degree from West Chester University, and his law degree is from Widener University School of Law.
Sabatina was a committeeman and worked as an aide to City Councilman Rick Mariano until 1999, when his dad announced that he was challenging the incumbent in the Democratic primary. Mariano won the race.
In the 1999 general election, the Sabatinas supported Republican Sam Katz for mayor over Democrat John Street. After Street won, the Democratic City Committee ousted the Sabatinas and three other 56th Ward officials. When Lisa Sabatina, John Sr.’s wife, was elected the new ward leader, she welcomed back her husband, stepson and the three others.
Before resigning to run for office, Sabatina was a prosecutor for four and a half years.
District Attorney Lynne Abraham, his former boss, was at last week’s campaign kickoff. So were Butkovitz, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz and John Dougherty, head of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98.
Abraham credited him for his work with crime victims. Butkovitz thinks he’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to the job. Dan McCaffery, a local attorney, knows the candidate won’t forget his roots.
Dougherty believes the nominee has an advantage because he grew up in politics. The labor leader, who strongly backed Mariano in the bitter 1999 primary, sees Sabatina as one to look for consensus. He calls him "smart," adding that his time in the district attorney’s office will prove valuable on criminal justice issues.
"He lived law and order for five years," he said.
As he begins the campaign, Sabatina will stress honesty, integrity and accountability.
"That’s what the voter wants," he said.
Sabatina said he’s no stranger to hard work, having put in a lot of hours as a prosecutor.
"That’s what I want to bring to the 174th," he said.
In office, he plans to work on issues such as crime, constituent services and ways to improve the lives of senior citizens.
Calling himself a "neighborhood guy," he’d like to open a district office on Bustleton or Castor avenues and be accessible to constituents. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com