Dems dominate
Ninth District

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

City Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco said she’s paid attention to her district during her 20-year career.
Tasco (D-9th dist.) prides herself on providing constituent services, revitalizing commercial corridors and funding programs for youth and senior citizens.
At the same time, she has taken a wider view, working to increase the use of technology in Philadelphia and end so-called "predatory lending."
"I’ve provided a lot of strong leadership in the 9th Councilmanic District and across the city," she said.
Tasco, elected in 1987, is seeking her sixth four-year term. In Tuesday’s Democratic primary, she faces Lamont Thomas, Raymond T. Jones Jr. and Cecil A. Hankins Sr.
The winner is guaranteed victory in November, since no Republican filed in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.
The district consists of Burholme, Lawndale, Oxford Circle, Olney, Logan. Oak Lane and Mount Airy.
Thomas, a social worker, wants to add programs at recreation centers, enact term limits, fund a witness protection program and prevent property tax hikes. He claims Tasco attends community meetings only at election time.
"I’m not running because I want a job. I already have a job. I want to really, sincerely help the people in the district," he said.
Jones, who enjoys the support of mayoral candidate Chaka Fattah, is co-founder of Men United for a Better Philadelphia, an anti-violence group, and served as vice chairman of the Tax Reform Commission. He gave up his job as community coordinator with the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative to run for the seat. He’s calling for increased services and job prospects for people leaving prison as a way to decrease crime.
"Violence is a manifestation of people feeling alienated and locked out of the economic process," he said.
Hankins is a retired city employee, having worked in the behavioral health field and in the AIDS office. He is a longtime block captain and anti-violence activist. He was once arrested when he confronted then-Council President John Street over cuts to homeless programs.
The Logan resident wrote to then-U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum to seek funding to eradicate the toxic waste on the site of the so-called "sinking homes" in his community. Santorum arranged for a cleanup by the Environmental Protection Agency.
"I’ve always been a community-oriented person and advocate for the less fortunate," he said.
Hankins favors term limits in Council, saying two four-year terms are enough. He’s also demanding that Tasco do more to eliminate abandoned buildings.
The candidate has little money in his campaign treasury but received a boost when he was endorsed by mayoral candidate Tom Knox. He wants to work with Knox to address issues such as crime, the school dropout rate and joblessness.
“This is a great city and can be greater,” he said. “It’s past time for a change.”
Tasco, who served a term as a city election commissioner before being elected to Council, is supporting Dwight Evans for mayor.
The councilwoman believes she is attentive to the needs of her constituents. She involves neighborhoods in land-use issues and tries to connect block captains, civic groups and churches.
"It’s the key to building communities," she said.
Another way she has tried to strengthen neighborhoods is by improving recreation centers. She helped fund an overhaul of the Tarken Ice Rink in Oxford Circle and has turned her attention to the Houseman Recreation Center in Summerdale. ••