Darn that gorgeous weather.
Turnout was light at two Deliberations Days events Thursday; four Democratic candidates for at large seats on City Council held a substantive, civil debate at The Enterprise Center in West Philly. A small gathering listened to the five GOP at-large candidates answer issues questions, and everyone listened to candidate Phil Kerwick accuse Inquirer journalists of being every bad thing of short of shock troopers for Satan.
The Dems' forum included some very smart talk about how to fund and protect Fairmount Park, how to improve SEPTA and how to make sure that if Ray Nagin comes to town again - if we ever let the rascal come back - the New Orleans mayor will have less cause to call our city dirty.
Podcasts of both forums can be found right now on this site.
As for the straw poll on the mayor's race , some folks either didn't vote or their ballots got lost in the shuffle somehow. The combined tally we have from Thursday was: Nutter 13, Knox 8, Evans 2, Brady 2 and Fattah 1. Congressman Fattah actually tied with fringe candidates Queena Bass and Jesus White.
On the casino question, 26 people voted to limit casinos, 5 to let them go where the state wants.
Tonight, it's the lively District 1 race, with candidates Vern Anastasio and Frank DiCicco, at the Independence Visitors Center.
-- Chris Satullo
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