Philly's next mayor has already been chosen
Brandon Marshall Ngai
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Ed-Op
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The Nov. 6 mayoral election has already been decided, much like the dozen or so mayoral elections before it. As any aware Philadelphian can tell you, the actual, meaningful election had taken place five months previous, when the Democratic Primary named Michael Nutter as its candidate for the race in our overwhelmingly Democratic town.
Al Taubenberger, Nutter's Republican adversary, is something of an ornamental, but worthy, hurdle for the Democrats. Though billed as "America's Favorite Underdog," Taubenberger will not change the Philadelphian underdogs' poor track record (see Rocky). His web site, MayorAl2007.com, is a sparsely decorated online representation of his candidacy. Is this evidence of his political, no-frills straightforwardness, or his reluctance to waste funds on a capable web designer, in preparation for defeat?
Taubenberger has remarked that this race is a "fascinating" one, and most observers would agree; it has, after all, attracted a motley and colorful crew of candidates.
There's 56-year old Jesus White, Philadelphia's first homeless hopeful who obtained the requisite 2,000 signatures in April to make it on the Democratic ballot. The more visible third party candidate, John Staggs, is a Socialist contender whose name yields nothing particularly informative on a Google or Wikipedia search. Perhaps most notable is Larry West, the mohawked punk-rock Wonderboy who, though ineligible to run at the age of 22, is running anyway; that's the kind of obstinate determination this city needs.
Even if the election's expected outcome lessens any anticipatory excitement, the important issues should not lose any merit. Following eight years of Street-associated corruption, racial divisiveness, and unremarkable city improvement, the seat is not exactly a coveted one to fill, but the two reform-heavy candidates are hoping to restore both pride and accountability to Philadelphia's highest office.
Can this year's mayoral election produce the competent leadership that Philadelphia needs? Our next mayor must promote racial harmony, must provide economic and vocational opportunities for citizen retention, and must ardently combat crime, to name a few things. It appears that Michael Nutter and Al Taubenberger are prepared to take on these endeavors, as evidenced by their nearly similar platforms. For most Philadelphians, the glamour of politics won't be found in the upcoming election, but in the upcoming four years.
Al Taubenberger, Nutter's Republican adversary, is something of an ornamental, but worthy, hurdle for the Democrats. Though billed as "America's Favorite Underdog," Taubenberger will not change the Philadelphian underdogs' poor track record (see Rocky). His web site, MayorAl2007.com, is a sparsely decorated online representation of his candidacy. Is this evidence of his political, no-frills straightforwardness, or his reluctance to waste funds on a capable web designer, in preparation for defeat?
Taubenberger has remarked that this race is a "fascinating" one, and most observers would agree; it has, after all, attracted a motley and colorful crew of candidates.
There's 56-year old Jesus White, Philadelphia's first homeless hopeful who obtained the requisite 2,000 signatures in April to make it on the Democratic ballot. The more visible third party candidate, John Staggs, is a Socialist contender whose name yields nothing particularly informative on a Google or Wikipedia search. Perhaps most notable is Larry West, the mohawked punk-rock Wonderboy who, though ineligible to run at the age of 22, is running anyway; that's the kind of obstinate determination this city needs.
Even if the election's expected outcome lessens any anticipatory excitement, the important issues should not lose any merit. Following eight years of Street-associated corruption, racial divisiveness, and unremarkable city improvement, the seat is not exactly a coveted one to fill, but the two reform-heavy candidates are hoping to restore both pride and accountability to Philadelphia's highest office.
Can this year's mayoral election produce the competent leadership that Philadelphia needs? Our next mayor must promote racial harmony, must provide economic and vocational opportunities for citizen retention, and must ardently combat crime, to name a few things. It appears that Michael Nutter and Al Taubenberger are prepared to take on these endeavors, as evidenced by their nearly similar platforms. For most Philadelphians, the glamour of politics won't be found in the upcoming election, but in the upcoming four years.
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