PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The head of the Democratic party in Philadelphia says John Street, the former mayor, is “serious” about running against Mayor Nutter as an Independent in the November 8th general election.

US Rep. Bob Brady, the longtime leader of the Democratic City Committee, says John Street (above) — a two-term Democratic mayor who switched his party registration to Independent last month — paid a courtesy call recently to let him know that it was “no joke,” in Brady’s words.

(US Rep. Bob Brady, D-Pa. Photo provided)

“He’s going to make a decision throughout the summer,” Brady (right) told KYW Newsradio.  “He has until August to file petitions.”

Did Street ask for Brady’s support?

“He didn’t ask me what I thought, he didn’t ask me for my support,” Brady said.

There has been a lot of friction between John Street and Michael Nutter over the years, and Mayor Nutter just defeated Street’s older brother, Milton, in this past week’s primary, by a margin of 76 percent to 24 percent (see related story).

Street switched from Democrat to Independent in mid-April, on the deadline for candidates who want to make an independent run in November.

Brady says it would sure make for one confusing general election:

“But hey, we’re Democrats — our primaries are always confusing.”

Critics say the recent primary showed Mayor Nutter’s support was softest among many of Philadelphia’s poorer African-American neighborhoods, perhaps giving John Street the indication he needed to move forward with a mayoral run.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060