On Brady and Saidel (The Next Mayor)

They called themselves "Batman and Robin" as they drove through Philadelphia in the final weeks of the 1999 mayoral race, drumming up support for John Street.

Jonathan Saidel, the former City Controller who has published a book about how to make Philadelphia better, sometimes simply called himself U.S. Rep. Bob Brady's driver.

They were known to be close, and conventional wisdom said that Saidel and Brady couldn't both run for mayor. But it was Saidel who was moving ahead with a campaign, working in a quiet, ward-to-ward way through the summer, then coming out with a trifecta of the right pre-announcement moves: a campaign Web site, the first real position paper of the race and the opening of his first campaign office. And it was Brady on the sidelines, who still had people wondering if he was going to run or was just "busting chops," as his friends told the Daily News' Stu Bykofsky (and somehow, we doubt that they really said "chops").

But it was Saidel who blinked.

Saidel gave this statement to the Daily News today:

"I have always understood that politics is a full contact sport and it was never a surprise to me that some people, including people that have been friends, would oppose me. That wouldn't have dissuaded me from running.

"But as I thought about the race, what it would take to win, and the impact it would have on my ability to earn a living and take care of my family, I realized that I could not be as committed to the race as I would need to be."

And what did Brady say?

Today, Brady told the Daily News that Saidel had not told him of his plans. Brady also said he had not decided whether he would run for mayor.

This despite signs such as the quotes from labor leader Henry Nicholas, who says Brady called him last Saturday and asked for his support.

(ETA: Gotta give Larry Ceisler credit for the best quote re Brady, in the story by Michael Currie Schaffer and Marcia Gelbart in today's Inquirer:

"As far as I can tell, he tells different people different things on the same day," Ceisler said. "He is our own little Hamlet.")

Comments (3)

citizenthomas

Are you kidding me? Bob Brady for mayor? What has this guy ever done in congress? This is the same guy who admitted in Tigre Hill's "The Shame Of A City" that he fabricated the spin that defended the FBI investigation into John Street's
office as a Political/Racial plot. He admitted that he lied about this!!!!!! To even consider him for mayor is absurd!! Everyday I read the papers I am more embarrassed to be a Phildelphian!!!

Posted by citizenthomas | December 3, 2006 9:08 PM

Dan

That's strange. I thought Millbourne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millbourne,_Pennsylvania) was our own little hamlet.

Posted by Dan | December 4, 2006 1:47 PM

Ralph Adamo:

I don't care if Brady is running or Saidel is running. They are both CORRUPT as anything, and I LOVE CORRUPTION. In fact, the more corruption the better. I hope that one of them gets to be mayor and gets to rob the city blind, loading up the staff with as many patronage idiots as possible. The people of Philadelphia are pretty stupid, judging by the corrupt swine they elect year after year. So I say let them get swindled some more. THEY LOVE IT, SO GIVE IT TO THEM GOOD.

Posted by Ralph Adamo | January 9, 2007 3:53 PM

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