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At City Hall Today, mayoral candidate/Digital Underground frontman Michael Nutter made a statement about Milton Street’s “candidacy” — his quote marks, not mine — for mayor.
He gave all the usual (true) pitfalls about Street’s candidacy: He doesn’t live in Philadelphia, his platform is simply taken from old movies, he’s not taking it seriously, he called me Watermelon Man, etc.
Nutter’s right, of course, but any mention of Milton Street getting out of the race makes my job much harder, so I can’t say I agree. Look, if Nutter wants to start giving campaign speeches at McDonald’s and getting arrested in New Jersey, then maybe I’ll support his “Milton Street shouldn’t run for mayor” platform. But let’s hear him out.
It sends the wrong message about Philadelphia. If Milton wants to run for mayor he should declare his candidacy in New Jersey, where he sometimes gets tired and lays his head down to sleep.
If Milton Street follows through with this travesty to the point of filing petitions for Mayor, I can promise you that my objections will be heard throughout Pennsylvania and beyond and I will make every effort to have him thrown off the ballot. This campaign is not about the personal, silly attacks Milton likes to make. This is not about one person wanting to be a political exhibitionist on T.V. Let’s get back to talking about the issues and talk to the five serious Democratic candidates in the race who want to address the problems that face Philadelphia.
Wait, we’re supposed to take this whole mayor’s race seriously? Shit, we gotta all go back in time and tell the candidates from the last 10 or so mayor’s races that.
Full release after the jump.
NUTTER ISSUES STATEMENT ON MILTON STREET’S MAYORAL BID
Will Challenge “Candidacy” if he submits petitions
Philadelphia, February 20, 2007—I reluctantly stand here today making a statement about a man who is trying to turn a serious election campaign into a local, regional and eventually, a national joke.
Philadelphia is a city full of fun and opportunity, a city of neighborhoods with people who appreciate a good joke. Milton Street is not a good joke, he is a bad joke who symbolizes much that is wrong with Philadelphia.
This is a serious campaign with five serious Democratic candidates talking about the future of Philadelphia. This campaign needs to be about the issues and not a sideshow with someone who does not even live in the state of Pennsylvania.
Milton Street is not a serious candidate. He is not talking about the issues and does not meet the qualifications to become mayor, one of which is residency. This campaign is not about one person getting themselves on television, it is about who is best qualified to reform the city and move Philadelphia forward.
The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter states that you have to live in the city for three years – in a campaign last year for the Pennsylvania State House, the courts kicked Milton Street off the ballot as a non-resident of Pennsylvania – clearly Milton is not a resident.
The last thing that Philadelphia needs is more problems with corruption or retreating into policies of the past. In City Council I fought for reform and a higher ethical standard for our city. It is absolutely incredible that a person who does not live in the city and who is currently fighting corruption charges would even think to present himself as a mayoral candidate.
It sends the wrong message about Philadelphia. If Milton wants to run for mayor he should declare his candidacy in New Jersey, where he sometimes gets tired and lays his head down to sleep.
If Milton Street follows through with this travesty to the point of filing petitions for Mayor, I can promise you that my objections will be heard throughout Pennsylvania and beyond and I will make every effort to have him thrown off the ballot. This campaign is not about the personal, silly attacks Milton likes to make. This is not about one person wanting to be a political exhibitionist on T.V. Let’s get back to talking about the issues and talk to the five serious Democratic candidates in the race who want to address the problems that face Philadelphia.
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