McAleer ready
to take on O’Neill

Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring

Sean McAleer has been a familiar face at many local civic association meetings, serving as a community liaison to City Councilman at-large Jim Kenney.
McAleer, though, gave up that job on Jan. 9 in hopes that he can join Kenney on Council.
Last week, McAleer announced that he would run as a Democrat in the 10th Councilmanic District. He has the support of the district’s nine ward leaders and will probably be unopposed in the primary.
The incumbent is Republican Brian O’Neill, first elected in 1979. He took 65 percent of the vote in 2003 against Democrat Robert McCarthy. O’Neill, who could face a primary opponent, did not return a call for comment.
McAleer, 39, thinks his experience will serve him well.
"I’ve worked in City Council. I know the way to get things done," he said.
McAleer, who lives on Axe Factory Road in Holme Circle, is a committeeman in the 57th Ward, 3rd Division. He works as an administrator at Franklin Towne Charter High School.
In the campaign, the challenger will focus on crime-fighting efforts.
"That’s my No. 1 goal, to get more police to the Northeast," he said.
The Democrat also wants to build more neighborhood-oriented public schools and reduce class size. And he wants to improve safety on Roosevelt Boulevard, increase programs for youths and senior citizens and bring more services to the district to better the quality of life.
While McAleer will probably have a free ride in the primary, he will be supporting Bob Brady’s bid for mayor. A Brady victory in the primary would likely help McAleer’s campaign, since Brady would probably run strong in the 10th district in the fall.
A primary victory by mayoral hopeful Chaka Fattah — who would likely do poorly in the general election in the 10th district — would damage McAleer’s hopes.
Ex-City Controller Jonathan Saidel will serve as McAleer’s campaign chairman. The treasurer is Harry Citrino Jr., who was O’Neill’s opponent in 1983 and whose son Rocky challenged the incumbent in 1999.
McAleer has a Web site and will hold a fund-raiser on Monday, Feb. 12 at Chickie’s & Pete’s on Roosevelt Boulevard. He’ll begin campaigning as soon as his literature is printed.
"I’m going to knock on every door in the district," he said.

• •

In news from the at-large Council race, Democratic incumbent Juan Ramos announced his bid for a second term.
Among other issues, Ramos promised to seek a moratorium on Philadelphia Gas Works rate increases and to ban trans-fats in city restaurants to decrease heart disease and obesity.
During the upcoming budget process, he will vote to increase funding for the Adolescent and Youth Violence Reduction Programs, hire more police officers, provide additional resources to enforce curfew and truancy laws and add probation officers and another judge to the city’s gun-court program.

• •

Tom Knox believes his stint as a deputy mayor under Ed Rendell and years as a successful businessman make him stand out in the field of five Democrats running for mayor.
Mayor John Street cannot seek a third four-year term.
"I’m not connected to the current administration," Knox said. "I can come in, make a clean sweep and put a new government in place."
Knox, who visited the Times’ office last week, is in the race with U.S. Reps. Bob Brady and Chaka Fattah, state Rep. Dwight Evans and former City Councilman Michael Nutter. He’s putting at least $5 million of his own money into the race.
"I don’t have an obligation to anybody. One candidate running has an obligation to everybody," he said, referring to Brady, chairman of the Democratic City Committee who has the backing of most ward leaders.
Knox is also no fan of Street, accusing him of engaging in so-called "pay-to-play" politics.
While labeling the mayor as honest and well-intentioned, Knox calls him "clueless" as an executive and contends he surrounds himself with bad people. More than 30 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty in a probe by federal authorities into fraud in city government.
"When you lie down with dogs," Knox said, "you get fleas."
During Knox’s visit, he repeated his campaign themes of more police officers and surveillance cameras, lower taxes, better investments in the pension fund and increased support for Community College of Philadelphia.
To address the 45-percent dropout rate among public high school students, he would add to the career-training curriculum. He’d also provide basic education and career training for convicts in the city jails.
Again, Knox ruled out running as the Republican Party’s candidate for mayor. He believes that, if Sam Katz couldn’t beat Street in two attempts, no GOP candidate can defeat a Democrat.

• •

In other news from the mayoral race, Nutter announced that he would be suing two local gun shops for allegedly selling guns to people who resold them on the streets of Philadelphia.
Nutter made his announcement outside Delia’s Gun Shop in Wissinoming. He plans to sue Delia’s and C & C Sports Center, on Geiger Road. He hopes to have their business licenses revoked.
The candidate said documents show that a convicted felon used a fake driver’s license to make 14 gun purchases at Delia’s over a six-week period in March and April 2005. The individual was later prosecuted.
"Licensed gun shop owners who do not heed obvious red flags on multiple purchases of guns are just as guilty as the person purchasing guns for illegal resale on our streets," Nutter said.

• •

Fattah announced details of his health plan, including a single-insurer system for city workers. Right now, each union has its own deal. Fattah thinks the move would save money for the city and the employees.
In addition, the candidate promised to offer every uninsured Philadelphian an annual checkup.
"Everyone should have the right to see a doctor," he said. "With nearly one-hundred and forty-thousand Philadelphians uninsured and the health disparities widening for low-income and minority citizens, we need action now. Preventive care can save lives and reduce costs."

• •

Dan Anders, an attorney at the Center City law firm of Pepper Hamilton, announced last week that he is running for a seat on Common Pleas Court.
Anders will run as a Democrat in the May 15 primary.
In 2005, Anders was named a "Lawyer on the Fast Track" by the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer. In 2004, the Philadelphia Business Journal named him one of its "Forty Under 40," a list of upcoming young professionals.
That same year, the Pennsylvania Bar Association gave him the Pro Bono Service Award for the free legal advice and counsel he provides to community organizations and needy individuals.
Anders, an East Falls resident, is the first openly gay man to run for Common Pleas Court.
"I think it’s important for our judicial system to reflect the full and rich diversity of Philadelphia residents," he said. "I intend to use my own unique experience in the administration of justice. I also believe that my diversity will help me understand how other minorities are served by the judicial system." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com