. . . But there is a
battle in the 7th . . .

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

While Joan Krajewski and Brian O’Neill have become fixtures representing the Northeast in City Council since 1980, the 7th Councilmanic District has seen a big turnover.
Since the early 1980s, the district has been represented by Harry Jannotti, Pat Hughes, Jack Kelly, Dan McElhatton, Rick Mariano and now Dan Savage.
On Tuesday, voters will elect their seventh representative in 24 years.
The contenders are Democrat Maria Quinones-Sanchez, Republican Gary Grisafi and independent Luis A. Pineda in a district that stretches from Bustleton to lower Kensington.
Quinones-Sanchez, 38, a longtime activist from Norris Square and former regional director for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, is making her second run for the seat. In 1999, she finished a distant second in a three-way primary to Mariano.
When Mariano resigned last year after a corruption conviction, Democratic ward leaders chose Savage, who easily beat Grisafi in a special election.
In the May primary, Quinones-Sanchez beat Savage in a three-way race, thanks to a late endorsement by Gov. Ed Rendell.
Grisafi, a 43-year-old music teacher and band member from Castor Gardens, is making his fourth bid for office. Besides the Council runs in 2006 and this year, he twice challenged state Rep. Mark Cohen. He serves as a committeeman in the 53rd Ward, 17th Division.
In this campaign, he has stressed that he believes Quinones-Sanchez is a liberal extremist. He cites her support for abortion, condoms for prisoners, needles for drug addicts and sex-change operations for gay city employees and an end to the dollar-a-year lease for the Boy Scouts Center City headquarters over the group’s ban on gay leaders.
Quinones-Sanchez respects Grisafi’s effort to bring attention to ideological differences, but doesn’t back down from her views.
"I stand in support of all those issues," she said.
In addition to the ideological differences, Grisafi thinks he is the candidate who can raise hell and stand up to other politicians, pointing to Quinones-Sanchez’s past jobs as an aide in Council and the city commissioners’ office.
"I’m the real independent outsider in this race," he said.
Pineda, 48, of West Kensington, is a real estate agent. He has some very ambitious plans for the district, including helping immigrant families adapt to the United States and opening a hospital for senior citizens, a Latino mall, a leadership school for children and a multi-sport facility for teenagers.
"My focus will be on young people, who are the future," he said. "I want to help young people move forward."
Pineda is being supported by some Democrats who are unhappy with Quinones-Sanchez, though he is not considered a threat to beat the two major-party candidates.
Grisafi, who has raised about $1,300, has taken his message and no-frills campaign literature door to door. He’s attended various anti-crime and anti-drug rallies.
The Republican supports lower business, wage and real estate transfer taxes. He favors the hiring of more police and an expansion of surveillance cameras in high-crime areas. He would oppose an expansion of affordable housing if it meant higher taxes.
On the issue of education, he wants a curriculum that includes classes on the dangers of guns, drugs and pre-marital sex, respect for neighbors and pride in neighborhoods. He’d add art, dance and academic classes to after-school programs, enforce truancy laws and hire more police for the School District of Philadelphia.
If elected, he vows not to accept the city-issued car available to members of Council. While he’s campaigned throughout the district, Grisafi knows his best chance to win is to get votes in the areas of the Northeast. He thinks he’s a better fit for the northern part of the district than Quinones-Sanchez.
"The Northeast has a chance to elect someone who will fight for us," he said. "She lives at Second and Diamond."
Anticipating a low turnout citywide because of a non-competitive mayoral race, Grisafi hopes voters in the 7th district come to the polls.
"This is a serious race. It’s winnable," he said.
Quinones-Sanchez, the favorite in an overwhelmingly Democratic district, has developed a plan of action for Frankford. She wants the city to turn over properties that were confiscated for drug or tax reasons to the Frankford Community Development Corporation for rehabilitation and resale.
To strengthen the Frankford Avenue commercial strip, she would offer special tax incentives to people who start a business or existing businesses that hire local residents. She would also lobby for a mini-police station and beat cops on the avenue.
Other parts of her plan include expanding recreation and after-school choices, offering tax incentives to businesses that hire former prisoners and exploring the possibility of opening a charter school
Quinones-Sanchez describes Frankford as a neighborhood that can rebound or decline.
"I want to be part of the group of folks that moves it forward," she said.
Quinones-Sanchez knows little of Pineda and calls Grisafi "well intentioned," but thinks she is the best person to help city government assist the diverse areas of the district. She is proud to have won the primary while running against the Democratic Party machine.
If elected, she looks forward to being a proactive councilwoman, working with presumptive Mayor Michael Nutter on crime, education, business and jobs issues.
The 7th Councilmanic District includes some of the busiest police districts in the city — the 15th, 24th, 25th and 26th — and Quinones-Sanchez hopes better deployment of officers makes a difference.
The Democrat also wants to work with the new school district CEO to develop a funding and leadership strategy to address concerns such as classroom size and violence. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com