Discussing the issues: Mayoral candidates (from left) Doug Oliver, James Kenney, Lynne Abraham, Anthony Williams and Melissa Murray Bailey delivered opening and closing statements and answered questions from moderator Tom Waring (far right) during a forum at Fox Chase Elementary School on Friday. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
The mayoral candidates are criss-crossing the city to meet voters at community forums, and the caravan stopped last Friday night at Fox Chase Elementary School.
The Fox Chase Homeowners Association sponsored the event and invited the six Democrats and one Republican seeking City Hall.
Republican Melissa Murray Bailey attended, as did Democrats Doug Oliver, Lynne Abraham, Jim Kenney and Anthony Williams. Nelson Diaz was unable to attend. Milton Street was expected to attend, but did not.
Candidates delivered opening and closing statements and took questions from a moderator. Audience questions came from Fox Chase principal Rob Caroselli, a student government member and a representative of Parents United for Public Education.
The forum was generally cordial, though Abraham and Kenney sparred over so-called “dark money” and who could better deal with City Council.
Kenney spent 23 years as an at-large member of Council before resigning in January to run for mayor. He vowed that Council President Darrell Clarke and other members will “be in the room” when he crafts a budget.
“We will get stuff done together,” he said.
Abraham has called for an end to councilmanic prerogative, which gives Council members autonomy over development in their districts, and has offered other criticism of Council.
“You have to treat people with respect and dignity,” Kenney said.
Kenney also pointed out that Abraham, who spent 14 years as district attorney, hasn’t been in office since early 2006.
“I haven’t had a nine-year hiatus,” he said.
Oliver, a former spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter and onetime senior vice president for business development and external affairs at Philadelphia Gas Works, tried to distinguish himself from the other five Democrats, who he noted have spent more than 100 years combined in elected and appointed office.
“I think we could use a new perspective,” he said.
Kenney credited the Jesuits who taught him at St. Joseph’s Prep with helping lead him to a career in public service.
“It’s important to give service to others,” he said.
Abraham told the crowd that she was a frequent visitor to Fox Chase and other Northeast neighborhoods when she was a judge and district attorney. She recalled National Night Out events and the 1994 beating death of Fox Chase teenager Eddie Polec.
Williams, a state senator who formerly served as a state representative, recalled working with Republicans Reps. John Taylor, John Perzel and George Kenney on police issues in the Northeast.
Bailey, a businesswoman, spent part of her youth in Absecon, New Jersey, a town near Atlantic City, but she’s no gambler.
“That’s how I feel as a taxpayer in Philadelphia,” she said.
On the question of a lack of staffing in Northeast police districts, Kenney mentioned rehiring 200 to 300 retired cops on a part-time basis to patrol low-crime areas, an idea he said was supported by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5. Abraham believes a redrawing of police districts would help solve the problem. Williams wants more cops across the city and improved police stations. Bailey would like to find a way to have officers spend less time in court. Oliver praised Town Watch groups and Police Athletic League centers.
On a question of declining home ownership rates, Oliver said he’d do everything possible to get people the resources they need to make a home purchase. Kenney said neighborhoods are more desirable for home buyers if they see other properties free of trash and weeds. He praised the Community Life Improvement Program.
“Tommy Conway will stay running CLIP,” he said.
In response to a question about the waterfront, Kenney said former congressman Bob Borski and the Delaware River City Corporation have done a good job opening up access.
“The waterfront belongs to everyone,” he said.
Abraham said trails and picnic areas are nice, but that the Northeast otherwise lacks a vibrant waterfront.
“Philadelphia is well behind,” she said.
As for independent groups that are running television commercials for Williams and Kenney, Bailey said the system is “broken,” adding that she believes too much money is spent on campaigns. She’d rather see charities like the Make-A-Wish Foundation benefit.
“That seems like a worthy cause. There are so many people in need who could use that money,” she said.
Oliver said he’s campaigning at the retail level, shaking hands and listening to concerns.
“That’s the way you get it done,” he said.
Kenney said he supports the city’s strict campaign finance guidelines, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that outside groups can spend what they want to influence elections.
“The Supreme Court of the United States trumped us,” he said.
Abraham said she’s raising money by calling donors on the phone, arguing against millions of dollars spent by a small number of people.
“It creates a situation where people are buying an office,” she said.
Williams, the biggest beneficiary of independent expenditures, noted that he has also raised money little by little.
“I went out and raised money the old-fashioned way,” he said.
A Fox Chase fifth-grader asked about funding art and music programs in schools.
Kenney said the city should rent the mayor’s box at the pro sports venues.
“Make it a school fundraiser,” he said.
Caroselli, the principal, said unfair funding allocations hurt schools like Fox Chase when it comes to hiring counselors and reading specialists.
Oliver, in response, called for an audit of the School District of Philadelphia, adding that he hopes Gov. Tom Wolf will be able to deliver more money, since he’s indicated education is his №1 priority.
Responding to a question from a representative of Parents United for Public Education, Williams said he’s best positioned to find more funding for schools because of his good relationships with state legislators, some members of Council and U.S. Sens. Bob Casey Jr. and Pat Toomey. He pushed for increases in the cigarette and sales taxes to fund schools.
“Those were my bills,” he said.
In closing statements, Kenney vowed to address high poverty rates.
Williams pledged to unite the city and invest in neighborhoods.
Abraham, who supervised a staff of more than 600 as district attorney, stressed her experience and independence.
“I’m ready to govern on day one. I’ll be nobody’s mayor but yours,” she said.
Bailey and Oliver countered with their relative lack of experience in government.
“I’m coming in with a fresh perspective,” Bailey said.
“Are you satisfied with what you’ve got?” Oliver asked. ••
