Philadelphia’s police union leader vowed to invest “six figures” to support mayoral candidate Jim Kenney while directing some biting words at Kenney’s primary election opponents during the April 14 meeting of the Somerton Civic Association.
SCA President Seth Kaplan invited Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 President John McNesby to address the group as a relatively new resident of the area. McNesby moved from Parkwood to Somerton several months ago.
“I’m going to be honest. If you vote for Lynne Abraham, you’re throwing your vote away,” McNesby told the audience of about 60 people before claiming that Abraham doesn’t have the campaign funds to match the television advertising of Kenney or Anthony Hardy Williams.
“She’s at twenty percent (in the polls) and she’s going to stay at twenty percent,” McNesby said.
The police union boss also targeted Nelson Diaz.
“He’s talking about issues from 1976, when we all had rotary phones,” McNesby said.
As for Milton Street, McNesby simply snickered, inducing chuckles from some meeting-goers. McNesby described the Democratic primary as a “two-horse race” between Kenney and Williams.
Two mayoral hopefuls were among about a dozen political candidates who spoke during the meeting. The lone Republican on the mayoral ballot will be Melissa Murray Bailey, compared to six on the Democrat side.
“I guarantee you I have enough fire, passion and energy to be six candidates in one. I am fed up with City Hall, too, because they’re spending our money and we don’t know what it’s going toward,” she said.
Murray Bailey cautioned voters about taking her lightly in light of the Democrats’ 7-to-1 advantage in voter registration citywide.
“The mayor is actually going to be elected in November, not in May,” she said, referencing the primary and general elections.
Diaz spoke before McNesby and had left the room by the time the police union boss took the floor.
Diaz credited public schools in his native New York City for helping him overcome his humble beginnings. He said he has an eight-point plan for funding Philadelphia’s troubled public schools. Meanwhile, he wants to reduce wage taxes and increase taxes on “corporations like Comcast.”
Incumbent 10th district Councilman Brian O’Neill is running unopposed for reelection. He reported that he has been in consultation with Streets Department Commissioner Dave Perri about installing “speed cushions” along Southampton Road. O’Neill described speed cushions as lower and wider than conventional speed bumps.
Two Republican candidates for at-large council seats — Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce President Al Taubenberger and retail apparel executive Terry Tracy — asked the Somertonians for their support. Republican voters will be able to choose up to five of the seven candidates in the primary. The top five will advance to the general election, when at least two will win seats.
Former Councilman Frank Rizzo, who served as a Republican, is trying to return as a Democrat.
Lisa Deeley, a candidate for city commissioner, was another familiar Northeast face on the campaign trail. Deeley worked 18 years for Alan Butkovitz in the state House of Representative and the City Controller’s Office. She is the board president of Northeast Victim Services.
In other Somerton news:
• State Rep. Martina White thanked SCA members for helping to elect her to office. White was sworn into office one day before the SCA meeting. She fills the 170th district seat vacated by former state Rep. Brendan Boyle, who was elected to Congress last year. The next state House elections will be in 2016.
• Kaplan reported that the Quartett Club has reached an agreement to sell its golf course on Southampton Road to a partnership of developers who have agreed to pay the club’s past due tax debt and who plan to build several dozen homes on the course. The exact number of homes will be determined after additional survey work can be completed.
The deal will help the financially struggling club keep its doors open, albeit without golf. The club also has a pool and other amenities. The golf course will remain open at least through the summer.
• SCA members voted 33–4 to allow the owners of the historic old Comly School at 12350 Trevose Road to open the property to a child daycare program. The 19th-century building has about 6,000 square feet over two floors. It has been used as a professional office building for the last 12 years.
• The operators of the new Far Northeast Farmers Market invited residents to visit the season-opening outdoor market at Walker Lodge 306, 1290 Southampton Road, on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market will be open Saturdays throughout the summer. ••
