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Democratic Party in Philadelphia Skips Mayoral Endorsement for May 19th Primary

By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Democratic City Committee of Philadelphia has decided not to endorse any of the party's six candidates for mayor in next month's primary.

After years as head of the local Democratic party, Congressman Bob Brady (D-Pa.) knows when to avoid a needless fight.  That's what he has done with the party's decision not to endorse any of the mayoral candidates.

Brady says the 69 ward leaders who vote on endorsements were heavily split, mostly between candidates Tony Williams and Jim Kenney.

"They were probably split pretty much down the middle on who they would like," Brady told KYW Newsradio today, "and we wanted to give them the option of carrying a (sample) ballot with who their preference was for mayor.  It was only sensible that I would give them that option, instead of trying to force half of the people to take a ballot with a candidate that they weren't supporting.  It made no sense at all."

So, that means the Democratic Party will print up different sample ballots for May 19th, and ward leaders will get to decide whether to hand out ballots that list Williams, Kenney, or another candidate at the top.

"The sample ballot will have whatever candidate they want," Brady says.  "We will poll the ward leaders and ask them who they want on the top of the ticket."

The party has endorsed candidates for City Council, and Brady says the sample ballots will not vary for those races: only the endorsed Council candidates will be listed.

 

 

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