City Councilman Jim Kenney To Resign From Office, Run For Mayor
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The shifting sands beneath those who want to succeed Mayor Michael Nutter on the second floor of Philadelphia City Hall are becoming firmer now that Councilman-At-Large Jim Kenney will submit his resignation on Thursday to run for mayor.
Councilman Kenney told reporters who crammed into his office on Tuesday he feels "a bit liberated."
"I don't want to be retired, sitting on my porch and saying 'I should have tried it,'" Kenney said. "I'm willing to take the risk of resigning and to take the risk of not winning."
Like other city elected officials, the 'resign to run law' requires Kenney to give up his job to run for another public office, even though state and federal elected officials don't.
Kenney said in 23 years on Council he has "championed progressive causes and stood up for working families," so he expects to gather broad-based support.
"I expect significant labor," he said, "chamber of commerce and rowhouse support."
He doesn't believe in the racial math that some people compute with the potential for two prominent white candidates, Kenney and former District Attorney Lynne Abraham, and one African-American candidate, State Senator Anthony Williams in the field.
"Thinking people who you are forthright with can see your vision," he said, "listen to what you have to say, and figure out whether they're going to support you, or not."
When he says so long for now to his colleagues on Council on Thursday, he resigns, and then formally enters the race, Kenney said he will "get on the phone and start raising money." He said "raising $1.5-$2-million could make it a credible race," as opposed to years ago, before campaign finance reform, when more money ("$6,7,8-$10-million," according to Kenney) was needed.
The other announced Democrat for mayor is former Judge Nelson Diaz.
A former PGW spokesman, Doug Oliver, Mayor Nutter's first spokesman when he took office, is set to announce his candidacy early next month. Former State Senator Milton Street is also making noises that he'll join the fray.
The Democratic primary is May 19.
