By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer
State Rep. Tony Payton has been in office for a little more than 15 months, but said residents of the 179th Legislative District appreciate his attendance at civic association meetings, his presence on their doorsteps and his office’s outreach.
"I am engaged in community issues," he said.
Guy Lewis, Payton’s opponent in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, argues that his roots run deeper in the community.
While both candidates live in Frankford — Lewis on Mulberry Street, Payton on Bridge Street — the challenger notes that he’s lived in the neighborhood all of his 53 years.
Lewis hasn’t been able to raise much money in the low-income district, acknowledging he has a "tiny, tiny budget" for window posters and other campaign material.
Still, he is counting on the votes of people he’s known for years from the neighborhood and local churches. That support is more important, he believes, than from the likes of Gov. Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter, who back Payton.
"They can raise money and he can outspend us ten to one, but they can’t vote for him," Lewis said.
Payton, 27, was elected in 2006. He was the only Democrat on the primary ballot after the other three candidates were removed for faulty nominating petitions.
The party ran a write-in campaign for Emilio Vazquez, but Payton prevailed by 19 votes after a court challenge. He easily won the general election to succeed Bill Rieger, who retired after holding the seat for 40 years.
This year, a Lewis supporter is challenging Payton’s petitions, claiming forgeries and other bad signatures. A Commonwealth Court judge ruled that Payton had the required signatures to stay on the ballot, a decision that’s been appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
According to Lewis, Payton’s petitions were dishonest and show he is out of touch with his constituents.
"It highlights his disconnect with the community," he said.
Payton said he’s done plenty for the district, including bringing $5.2 million in investment. He’s focused on improving mass transit options, making sure students receive free breakfast and adding safety measures to Roosevelt Boulevard.
As part of this year’s budget, Payton is hoping funding is included for his initiative that would provide free tuition and fees to Pennsylvania state universities for high school students who maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average and 90 percent attendance rate.
The proposal would cost an estimated $350 million over four years and, in Payton’s opinion, give high school students an incentive to learn. He said the measure follows the Democratic Party principle of empowering people.
"It would send tens of thousands of young people to college," he said.
On another education issue, Payton supports the proposed $291 million hike in spending for public education. He wants to change the funding formula to give the School District of Philadelphia additional dollars.
"Philadelphia definitely needs more funding to lower class size and adopt the small school model," he said.
Payton also favors more funding to eliminate the waiting list for the state’s adultBasic plan, which provides health coverage for eligible uninsured Pennsylvanians ages 19 to 64.
"Those people don’t deserve to wait another day," he said.
Payton will actually be on the ballot twice on Tuesday. He’s running in the 1st Congressional District as a delegate for presidential candidate Barack Obama. He’s appeared in a television commercial for Obama and campaigned for him in New Hampshire.
Lewis, who has not endorsed a presidential candidate, criticizes Payton for his active support of Obama.
"His focus isn’t on the 179th," he said.
Several ward leaders in the Frankford, Northwood and Oxford Circle portions of the district are also not happy with Payton for a variety of reasons. Dan Savage (23rd Ward), Bill Dolbow (35th) and Marge Tartaglione (62nd) are backing Lewis, giving him the official party endorsement.
"It’s purely the petty personal politics of Philadelphia," Payton said of his snub from ward leaders.
The incumbent does have support from ward leaders Elaine Tomlin (42nd), Tom Logan (43rd) and Shirley Gregory (49th) in the Hunting Park, Feltonville and Olney areas of the district.
Lewis has been going door-to-door in all areas of the district talking about his background. He’s been an emergency medical technician, has worked as a nurse at Temple University Hospital since 1991 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves Nurse Corps during the Persian Gulf War.
While on the campaign trail, he’s participated in community eventsaa
Some of the challenger’s top issues are establishing community-based wellness centers, getting illegal guns off the streets and spurring economic development.
Like Payton, Lewis supports more funding for public education.
"In this district, the high school dropout rate is almost forty-nine percent," he said.
Lewis, citing a 10-percent unemployment rate in the district, wants to help find jobs for young people and ex-offenders.
"I’ve spoken to unions about training and apprentice programs," he said.
The winner of the primary will face Republican candidate William Kennedy in the general election.
• • •
While there has been no formal debate, Payton and Lewis will appear on Sunday on WNJC (1360 AM). Host Marvin Barrish will interview Payton from 5:30 to 6 p.m. City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez will call in her support. Barrish will talk with Lewis from 6 to 6:30 p.m. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com