Northeast has single
rep in at-large race

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

For Northeast Democrats hoping to elect one of their own to an at-large City Council seat, there is only one hope — Milton Street.
In another sign that Northeast Democrats yield little power citywide, the controversial former state senator and older brother of Mayor John Street is the only local resident among 19 Democratic al-large candidates in Tuesday’s primary.
Street, of the 1700 block of Anchor St. in Wissinoming, is trying to become the first Northeast Democrat to win an at-large seat since 1975. Most political observers give Street little chance of winning one of the five nominations.
On the Republican side, there are only five candidates, so all will appear on the general election ballot. They are incumbents Frank Rizzo and Jack Kelly and challengers Phil Kerwick, David Oh and Patricia Mattern.
Kelly lives in Somerton. Kerwick resides in Burholme.
As the minority party, Republicans will probably win only two of the seven seats in November. The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter reserves two seats for the minority party.
Rizzo, son of the late Mayor Frank L. Rizzo, is almost guaranteed to win another term. Kelly appears to be in a strong position, but Oh is well funded and ran a pretty good race in 2003.
Kelly and Oh, who aren’t close despite running on the same ticket, are making a push to finish with as many votes as possible on Tuesday because candidates are listed by their primary finish on the general election ballot.
While Oh is promoting himself in full-page newspaper advertisements, Kelly is mailing color brochures to Northeast Republicans that bill him as "one of our own" and remind them that he fought Mayor Street to maintain library hours. He’s also been endorsed by the police and fire unions, the AFL-CIO and AFSCME District Council 47.
On the Democratic side, all five incumbents are running for re-election and have been endorsed by the party. Three are considered near-certain winners: Blondell Reynolds Brown, Wilson Goode Jr. and Jim Kenney.
Incumbents Juan Ramos and Bill Greenlee are in jeopardy of losing.
Ramos has two problems. He’s listed 18th on the ballot, and voters could be confused by the presence on the ballot of Ben Ramos, who is no relation to the councilman.
Greenlee won a special election last November to fill the vacancy created by the death of his former boss, Councilman David Cohen, in 2005. He’s running television commercials to boost his name identification and lucked out by drawing the second ballot position, behind Kenney.
So, if Juan Ramos and/or Greenlee lose, which challengers might capture one of the nominations?
The best bet is probably Sharif Street, a lawyer and son of the mayor. While the elder Street is largely unpopular, even among Democrats, his son could win a crowded primary if all of the mayor’s fans support his son’s Council candidacy.
Bill Green, a lawyer and son of the former mayor and congressman of the same name, is also a contender. He spent the first 13 years of his life in Northwood. He has the backing of building trades unions, including the politically powerful electricians.
Ben Ramos has a good ballot position (fifth) and some name recognition from his days as a state representative, deputy mayor and Pennsylvania secretary of state.
Other Democrats running spirited campaigns include Marc Stier, Matt Ruben, Andy Toy and Derek Green.
Stier is an activist from West Mount Airy interested in issues such as transit, zoning and ethics reform. He’s been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, AFSCME District Council 47, Transport Workers Union Local 234 and various liberal advocacy groups.
Ruben, former president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association, is a fierce opponent of casinos in Philadelphia. He wants the state to give Philadelphia the power to make its own gun laws and will encourage the School District of Philadelphia to focus on students at risk of dropping out of school. He’s been endorsed by mayoral candidate Tom Knox.
Toy, of Logan Square, formerly worked for the City Planning Commission and the city Department of Commerce. While working with the Local Initiative Support Corporation, he helped strengthen nine commercial corridors, including Frankford Avenue in Frankford. He’s been endorsed by a handful of wards and numerous liberal organizations.
Derek Green, onetime president of East Mount Airy Neighbors, is a former legislative aide to Councilwoman Marian Tasco.
Among the projects he worked on was helping to fund renovations at Tarken Ice Rink. He’s also served as a deputy city solicitor and assistant district attorney.
In the private sector, he worked as a consumer lender at Meridian Bank, including branches in Mayfair and Bustleton. And he owns a women’s shoe store with his wife and friends.
Among those endorsing Green are Tasco, state Sen. Shirley Kitchen and state Reps. Dwight Evans and Tony Payton. ••