Nutter’s hot on the
campaign trail

Campaign Bits
By Tom Waring

Health care and pension costs for city workers make up 20 percent of Philadelphia’s budget, a figure expected to rise to 25 percent by 2012.
The contracts with the four municipal unions end on June 30, presenting an early challenge to the next mayor.
Michael Nutter, the Democratic mayoral candidate, is not discussing specifics, but he promises that city workers will receive a fair and reasonable contract.
"Those contracts also have to be fair and reasonable for the taxpayers," he told a crowd during a campaign stop last week at Baker’s Bay, a condominium complex on State Road in East Torresdale.
Al Taubenberger, the Republican candidate, addressed the audience several weeks earlier.
Nutter, a former city councilman from Wynnefield who came from behind in the polls to win the Democratic primary, is running on a platform of improvements to public safety, education and the job market.
Philadelphia ranks first among the nation’s 10 largest cities in violent crime. Nutter doesn’t expect the state legislature to pass any gun control measures, since Pennsylvania ranks second only to Texas in the number of National Rifle Association members.
The city has almost 6,700 police officers, and Nutter wants to put more of them on bicycles and foot rather than answering 911 calls for their whole shift.
"I want to bring community policing back to Philadelphia," he said.
Of course, his signature anti-crime initiative is the stop-and-frisk program in a dozen or more high-crime areas of the city.
"If you have an illegal weapon," he warned, "I’m coming to get it."
If elected, he will lobby state legislators for more money for the School District of Philadelphia to pay for art, music and other additions to the curriculum.
"We are shortchanging our children every day," he said.
As mayor, he wants to preside over a city where people are proud of, not "embarrassed" by, the government. He promises to eliminate the city’s "culture of corruption."
"That must come to an end," he said.
On other topics, he wants to continue lowering the business and wage taxes, favors city pickup of trash at condominium complexes, would revamp the Zoning Board of Adjustment and City Planning Commission and keep the tax abatement program for new construction.
On the campaign trail, Nutter has seen a dirty city. He calls the city’s appearance a "disgrace."
The new mayor will take office on Jan. 7. Within days of taking over, Nutter would organize a massive citywide cleanup effort.

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Earlier in the day, Nutter testified in front of City Council’s Finance Committee in support of the Philadelphia Re-Entry Employment Program bill.
The program provides a $10,000 tax credit for businesses to hire ex-offenders to help integrate them into the work force.
Nutter drafted legislation that was introduced by Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. (D-at large). The legislation passed unanimously out of committee and will ultimately be voted on by the full Council.
"This is an issue that couldn’t wait until a new mayor takes office and so I wrote the legislation to attempt to deal with it as soon as possible," Nutter said.

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City Councilman Jack Kelly (R-at large) opened a campaign office on Saturday at 1869 Cottman Ave.
The office will be used by volunteers and committee people to distribute lawn signs and campaign literature.
Kelly, a Somerton resident, is running for his second four-year term. He previously represented the 7th Councilmanic District from 1988-91.
The at-large race features 12 candidates: five Democrats, five Republicans and one candidate apiece from the Green Party and Socialist Workers Party. The top seven vote-getters are elected.
Because of voter-registration figures, the five Democrats are virtual shoo-ins for election. Councilman Frank Rizzo, a Republican, is a near certain winner. Kelly’s biggest competition is coming from attorney David Oh.
Kelly thinks he’ll be bolstered by his close relationship with Republican ward leaders and his support in Council for animal rights, parks, arts and culture and tax and ethics reform. Also, he believes his staff provides good constituent service.
"Those are the reasons people are going to support me," he said.
Last week, Kelly held a news conference to introduce legislation to provide firefighters with a safer, more sophisticated hearing device to protect against loud sirens, horns and machinery.
The councilman also held hearings to see what steps colleges have taken to coordinate emergency preparedness measures to prevent a catastrophe like the one at Virginia Tech, where a student gunman killed 32 people in April before turning the gun on himself.

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The public is invited to meet candidates in the upcoming election on Sunday at the Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, at 9768 Verree Road in Bustleton.
The Men’s Club of the synagogue will welcome candidates for brunch starting at 9 a.m. Candidates will present their positions and respond to questions.
Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call Harris Popolow at 215-676-7486 or Barry Leiber at 215-673-4624. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com