Sweet success: City Controller Alan Butkovitz attended a victory celebration at Tavern on Broad in Center City after being re-elected on Nov. 5. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
City Controller Alan Butkovitz, fresh off a resounding re-election win, now has about a year to ponder a big question.
Should he enter the 2015 Democratic primary for mayor?
Butkovitz, who won 82 percent of the vote against Republican Terry Tracy in the Nov. 5 election, said a successful candidate will need to raise a lot of money and have a strong campaign organization.
Other likely candidates for mayor include state Sen. Anthony Williams and businessman Tom Knox. City Council President Darrell Clarke is considered an unlikely candidate. Mayor Michael Nutter is prohibited by the Home Rule Charter from seeking a third term.
Clarke joined Butkovitz at his victory celebration at Tavern on Broad in Center City. The Council president credits the controller with being smart and acting without regard to what is popular or politically advantageous.
“Alan will say what’s on his mind,” he said. “Alan is a guy that knows the issues.”
City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and former state Rep. Tony Payton also joined the celebration.
Butkovitz, a Castor Gardens resident, won every ward in the city except the 45th and 64th. He called it “extraordinary” that he won the primary by 30 percentage points and the general election by more than 60 percent.
“This is really a thrilling victory,” he said. Looking ahead, Butkovitz expects to continue producing performance audits and focus on issues like the city’s finances, school district and charter school funding and safety measures within the Department of Licenses and Inspections. He plans to work with local universities and hospitals to help them purchase more manufactured goods from city companies.
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District Attorney Seth Williams, a Democrat, was re-elected with 81 percent of the vote over Danny Alvarez, a lawyer from Somerton.
Alvarez did very well in some wards in the Northeast and River Wards, beating Williams in the 25th, 45th, 55th, 58th, 63rd, 64th and 66th wards.
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Nine candidates were in contention for seven seats on Common Pleas Court. The winners, in order of finish, were Anne Marie Coyle, Dan McCaffery, Giovanni Campbell, Timika Lane, Scott O’Keefe, Joe Fernandes and Sierra Thomas Street.
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Philadelphia voters approved, 64 percent to 36 percent, a bond question allowing the city to borrow more than $94 million for various expenditures.
The question was voted down in the 25th, 45th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 63rd, 64th, 65th and 66th wards.
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Statewide, voters elected Republican Vic Stabile to Pennsylvania Superior Court. He defeated Democrat Jack McVay, 52 percent to 48 percent.
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On Nov. 7, Ironworkers Local 405 endorsed state Sen. Daylin Leach in the Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District. In a press release, business manager Sam Malone said, “It is with great pride that the Ironworkers Local 405 endorses Daylin Leach for Congress. We have worked closely with Daylin for more than a decade in the Pennsylvania legislature and know that he understands the needs of working families in Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County. Daylin has demonstrated that he will always fight to grow the middle class and that’s exactly what we need in Congress.”
On Nov. 8, Local 405 endorsed state Rep. Brendan Boyle for the same seat. Malone said, “Brendan is the clear choice for us. His passion for fighting for working families in this troubling economic time makes him the best candidate. We put our full support and backing behind Brendan.”
Malone also faxed a letter to the Boyle campaign stating, “Just to clear up any confusion that may exist, the Ironworkers Local Union #405 proudly endorses only one candidate for Congress in the 13th District, and that candidate is Brendan Boyle.”
What gives? Malone told PoliticsPA.com that he mistakenly authorized the press release giving the nod to Leach.
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The national and Pennsylvania chapters of the Utility Workers Union of America have endorsed Democrat Rob McCord, the state treasurer, for governor.
Robert T. Whalen, president of System Local 102 of the UWUA, said, “Utility workers in Pennsylvania have never faced a more challenging time. Along with working men and women all over our state, we are struggling with a governor who doesn’t seem to have any idea how to get our economy back on track. We believe that Rob McCord is the man to turn things around for working families in Pennsylvania.”
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The Republican City Committee will pay tribute to President John F. Kennedy on Friday, Nov. 22, the 50th anniversary of his assassination. The committee will recite Kennedy’s inaugural address at 5 p.m. at RCC headquarters, located at 3525–27 Cottman Ave. in Mayfair.
Community activist John T. Fritz will deliver a talk. There is no cost for the event. Donations will be accepted for Prevent Child Abuse PA. Dr. Maria McColgan, a board member of the organization, will talk about the child abuse organization. ••
