Mark McDonald of the Daily News previewed one of the more competitive City Council races of 2007. So far it looks like 3 and as many of 6 Democrats may challenge incumbent, Donna Reed Miller, who seems to continue her hold on her seat with a divide and conquer strategy.
Why the lack of overwhelming support for such a long-term incumbent? Could it be that the diversity of the 8th District - which stretches from North Philadelphia, along Germantown Avenue to the border and includes Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy and Germantown - would make it difficult for any candidate, incumbent or otherwise, to get over 50% in a field with 3 or more people?
Your thoughts on the barnburner in the 8th are welcome here.
Comments (3)
I don't live in the 8th, but here's my take:
Miller has a pretty strong background of shady dealings, and I'm sure many 8th district residents are aware of that.
For starters, Miller is involved with the infamous Germantown CDC. I know a former employee of this CDC who was under the impression that certain people in high positions at that CDC were more interested in hiring their (un/underqualified) friends and paying them lots of money than in actually helping Germantown.
Furthermore, Donna Reed-Miller is almost single handedly responsible for the fact that most, if not all, accountability measures for non-profits were removed from then Councilman Michael Nutter's city contract reform bill before it could pass in city council. Miller's was the deciding vote, and she refused to vote in favor of the bill with the non-profit related content because she claimed that the people running the non-profits wouldn't understand the requirements and/or would have to spend too much time doing paperwork.
The aforementioned accountability measures, of course, would have affected the Germantown CDC.
Posted by Dave | September 5, 2006 4:15 PM
Unfortunately, I think the ones who would willingly step aside in an effort to come together behind one challenger are precisely the people who would make the best candidates. If that makes sense. It's sort of like the King Solomon story except that there's no King Solomon to choose who gets the baby.
Posted by Dan | September 6, 2006 2:29 PM
Can someone come up with some evidence of all these statements?
What exactly happened at Germantown CDC?
Posted by XXX | January 24, 2007 2:01 PM