Aizaz Gill, president of the Burholme Civic Association and Republican candidate in the 172nd Legislative District, condemned the March 6 incident in which three gunmen shot eight Northeast High School students near a SEPTA bus stop at 7300 Rising Sun Ave.
Gill said the shooting, which happened at the best-known intersection in Burholme, can be traced to Democratic policies on crime.
“We have a culture of lawlessness in Philadelphia,” he said.
Gill favors impeaching District Attorney Larry Krasner, a move he believes would lead to more rights for victims and higher prosecution rates for drug dealers and other criminals.
Gill, who held a recent fundraiser at a friend’s home in Elkins Park, faces Patrick Gushue in the April 23 primary. Among those at the fundraiser were city elections commissioner Seth Bluestein, former City Councilman Al Taubenberger and party leader Vince Fenerty.
The Democrats in the race are Rep. Kevin Boyle and challenger Sean Dougherty, an attorney.
Gill is a graduate of St. Cecilia, Father Judge and Chestnut Hill College. He was campaign manager last year for Councilman Brian O’Neill’s smashing re-election victory.
Gill described his campaign as a grassroots one that turned in almost 1,000 nominating petitions, adding that he doesn’t have a brother who is a congressman (like Boyle) or a dad who is a state Supreme Court justice (like Dougherty).
“Philadelphia can’t afford two more years of the Boyles,” he said.
Gill said he has been getting a positive response when he knocks on doors and said he will spend what it takes to win the primary, though he declined to outline his budget. He expects a high-than-normal turnout in the district due to both parties having a primary. ••
