So who will be on the other side of the ballot come fall?
Catherine Lucey reports that four names have surfaced as possible Republican candidates for mayor: Lawyer (and former Boxing Commissioner) George Bochetto; Councilman Frank Rizzo; Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; and State Rep. John Taylor.
Bochetto, Rizzo (who isn't sure he wants to quit Council, and says he's thinking maybe R or D) and Taubenberger are planning to woo the crowds at the Pennsylvania Society next month. (Taylor couldn't be reached for the story.) Meanwhile, the Republican City Committee plans to meet the four potentials -- and maybe others -- in the next few weeks. They want to pick a candidate by the end of the year.
When was the last Republican mayor of Philadelphia, you ask? Why, Barney Samuel, who became acting mayor in 1941 and then was re-elected in 1943 and 1947, of course! (Check out our Philly Mayors Timeline.)
And the closest any GOP candidate has come since? That would be Sam Katz, who lost by about 9,000 votes in 1999.
Finally, check out the money quote from Frank Rizzo at the end of the story: “I’m sure [Republican City Committee legal counsel] Michael Meehan would love to have the name “Rizzo” on the ballot.”
PS: For the Johnny-Doc-as-an-R question, click here.
Comments (1)
"Hey come the republican committee hasn't called me back?"
What do you mean?
Posted by fjgkfj | November 20, 2006 10:39 PM