Spring Break
Drexel hosts Mayoral debate on campus
By: Noah Cohen
Issue date: 5/11/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/11/07 at 2:39 AM EST
Last update: 5/12/07 at 10:44 AM EST
Originally published: 5/11/07 at 2:39 AM EST
Last update: 5/12/07 at 10:44 AM EST
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The city's crime rate was one of the issues that dominated the evening's discussion.
"Crime is a disgrace in our city," said State Representative Dwight Evans.
Moderator Jim Gardener of 6ABC opened the debate by asking the candidates if they would support a lawsuit filled against the commonwealth to allow Philadelphia to have its own gun laws.
Rep. Chakah Fattah was the only one to take issue with this suit saying that he was concerned about the legality.
All the candidates highlighted their work in fighting crime.
Knox said he was able to get 80,000 people to sign a petition lobbying for stricter gun laws in the city.
Both Knox and Nutter said they would look to change the leadership of the Philadelphia Police Department.
"We need to get a police commissioner who is tough," said Knox.
Rep. Bob Brady said he would support the city's efforts to make its own gun laws. Brady also cited his support from Fraternal Order of Police and District Attorney Lynne Abraham.
Fattah pointed to his work in a "guns for groceries" program in which people could get free food by turning in illegal weapons to police.
As the debate progressed the candidates increased their personal attacks. Most notable was the exchange between Nutter, a front-runner in the race, and Fattah, who is trailing Nutter in the polls.
"The question is: Where is the former councilman's passion for the plight of those in our city who are jobless?" Fattah said.
While he credited Nutter's working in fighting city corruption he was quick to attack him on how he would deal with the other issues facing Philadelphians.
In response, Nutter compared the debate's tone to "WWF Smackdown".
Universities are traditional sites to hold the debate because their objective nature, according to Phillip Terranova vice president for University Relations.
Many of the candidates agreed it was important to address the need to keep college students in Philadelphia after they graduate. Bob Brady promised to create more jobs, so that students had incentive to stay.
Nutter was the only candidate who offered a plan to directly reach students.
"We need students to stay in Philadelphia," said Nutter.
He explained that we work to create a "pipeline" to recruit university students into public service. Nutter also cited the economic benefit of having students stay in the city.
Fattah said he didn't believe college students were responsible for "anti-social behavior" and was focused on the poor and crime-ridden areas of the city.
Brady, Fattah, Evans, Knox and Nutter are not the only candidates seeking Mayor Street's job.
Outside the Main Building a lone support for Queena Bass spoke to the crowd through a bullhorn.
Bass is local activist who is best know for alleging racial decimation after being fired from her job at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.
For the lone Bass support Hamilton Rause jobs is the key issue for Philadelphia.
"Jobs will take care of lots of things," said Rause.
Before the debate supporters gathered outside holding signs and using bullhorns to rally for their candidates.
Kristin Smith, a pre-junior in biomedical engineering and a Tom Knox supporter said that she is "voting for change".
Smith said she has seen the ups and downs of Philadelphia and called Knox a "a great leader".
Stedman Lahars said he was going "house by house" and "person by person" to spread the word about Evans.
"Knox is buying the election," he added.
