Phila. pols escape 'anti-incumbent fervor'

Mar, 08, 2006
Bob Warner, Daily News Staff Writer
The Philadelphia Daily News

Topics: Education

At least 11 Philadelphia legislators face opposition in the May 16 primary, the largest number of intraparty challenges since 1988.

But the deadline for candidates to seek spots on the May primary ballot passed yesterday without the widespread anti-incumbent fervor described in other parts of the state.

Out of 26 state House and Senate members seeking re-election, it appears fewer than half will face primary challenges, according to an unofficial list of candidates posted on the Internet last night by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

State House Speaker John Perzel, one of the architects of last year's legislative pay grab, has no opposition in the Republican primary. In the fall, he'll face Tim Kearney, the same Democrat he defeated in 2004.

No one stepped up to file primary election challenges against the city's three incumbent members of Congress - Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz.

Philadelphia NAACP leader J. Whyatt Mondesire, who had threatened to run against Fattah in retaliation for Fattah's flirtation with a 2007 mayoral bid, backed away from a congressional race yesterday.

Mondesire issued a written statement citing his positions with the NAACP and the state Human Relations Commission.

"Having to vacate these two positions in order to enter the primary would mean too heavy a personal sacrifice in view of the significant amount of work still to be completed in both positions," the statement said.

Of three state senators from Philadelphia up for re-election this year, only one has a primary fight. Sen. Tina Tartaglione will face Marnie Aument-Loughrey, an assistant at the Board of Revision of Taxes.

There is a lot of competition among Democrats to fill two state House seats where the incumbents are retiring: the 175th district, running from Queen Village to Fishtown, which Rep. Marie Lederer is giving up after 14 years, and the 179th district in North Philadelphia, filled by Rep. William Rieger since 1967.

Lederer's former chief of staff, Michael H. O'Brien, 51, is running with the backing of the Democratic City Committee treasurer, John Dougherty, leader of the electricians' union.

O'Brien is opposed for the Democratic nomination by three other candidates - businesswoman Terry Graboyes, 53, owner of Graboyes Commercial Window Co., who won labor backing yesterday with an endorsement from the Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO; attorney Pete Fiorentino; and Anne Dicker, 32, an organizer of the civic group Philly for Change, an outgrowth of the Howard Dean presidential campaign in 2004.

In the race for Rieger's seat, a 38-year-old ticket-writer for the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Emilio Vazquez, won the endorsement of the district's Democratic ward leaders Monday night. But three rivals filed to challenge him in the primary - Tony J. Clayton Jr., Walter M. Gnoza and Rodnell Griffin, administrator of a nonprofit social-service organization.

Here's a list of the other primary races shaping up for state House incumbents, all Democrats, based on the unofficial list of candidates posted last night by the state election bureau:

Rep. Angel Cruz to face challenger William Cartagena.

Rep. W. Curtis Thomas opposed by Lawrence P. Clark.

Rep. Babette Josephs opposed by two other Democrats, Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. and Frank Sileo.

Rep. Robert Donatucci opposed by Malina F. Williams.

Rep. James R. Roebuck challenged by Devon Cade.

Rep. Thomas W. Blackwell opposed by former Rep. Michael Horsey, who lost the seat to Blackwell two years ago.

Rep. Rosita Youngblood challenged by Supreme Dow.

Rep. John Myers opposed by Gerald Marshall.

Rep. Mark B. Cohen to face Patrick Dugan.

Rep. Dwight Evans challenged by Lamont W. Thomas.

Copyright 2002-2007 The Philadelphia Daily News. Used with permission.
 
 
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