Maybe this race will be in the sewer afterall

Ok, we had a little fun playing politics last week but now it's time for me to get back to writing about issues, or as Josh Lyman would call it, eating my vegetables.

A new poll conducted by well known PA pollster G. Terry Madonna for Citizen's for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) and its Next Great City initiative was released today. The poll, taken of Philadelphia business leaders and residents, found that:

92 percent of Philadelphians believe that environmental and infrastructure improvements are necessary to improve the area's economic competitiveness and growth

85 percent of voters reported that they are more likely to vote for a candidate for Mayor who made improving the city's environment and its sewer, water and transportation infrastructures a top priority

48 percent of business leaders and 56 percent of voters think improving Philadelphia's environment should be the top or one of the most important issues for the next mayor

Just so those who count themselves among the "Could-Be Mayors" know that I remember when they talk about issues, I'll point out that one among them is on the record about sewer and water infrastructure.

In this letter (scroll down to bottom) to the Northeast Times on September 15th 2005, John Dougherty writes:

Philadelphia’s antiquated sewer system is crumbling under our feet. We cannot risk our quality of life by ignoring this problem any longer. We need a strategic, inter-governmental action plan to replace Philadelphia’s sewer infrastructure. It won’t be easy or inexpensive, but it must be done.

Is it not unexpected that a candidate who is also one of the most powerful leaders of a construction trades union would be out front in calling for a massive public investment in infrastructure improvements that would most assuredly mean plenty of high paying jobs for union members? Or is Dougherty out in front on an issue that resonates with a great majority of the city's residents? Or both?

UPDATE: Dougherty got a lot of mileage out of this op-ed. It also appeared in The Philadelphia Public Record (via politicsphilly.com) and The Daily News as a letter to the editor on August 10, 2005.