Inquirer Mayor's Race Archive

From afternoon tea to union hall, Street stirs faithful (10/19/99)
Though he was a member of City Council for 19 years, John F. Street was never embraced by the political establishment. He was the legislative insider, a power in the marbled chambers of City Hall, an enigma to Philadelphia at large. But last night, John Street heard a thousand people chanting his name.

Katz recipe for economic health: Streamline, train (10/19/99)
Republican mayoral nominee Sam Katz released his economic development strategy for the city yesterday, a plan aimed at reversing the exodus of residents to the suburbs and attracting more jobs to the city.

Street, Katz hear about waste, schools (10/19/99)
Sam Katz wrestled with questions about school vouchers while John F. Street grappled with complaints about drones on the city payroll at a mayoral candidates' forum held last night in a solarium on the top floor of Hopkinson House on Washington Square.

Street TV, radio ads target Katz, blacks (10/19/99)
John Street, apparently in a closer race for mayor than he had envisioned, has produced a television ad meant to ridicule Sam Katz for seeking $20 million in state money for an auto track and has produced a radio ad focused directly at black voters.

For Connie Katz, time of change (10/19/99)
From the moment they met 31 years ago at the Freshman Flock mixer in Baltimore - she was at Goucher, he at Johns Hopkins - Sam Katz informed his future wife Connie that he was interested in elective office. Actually, she recalls, he was more brazen: "He wanted to be president of the United States."

In Germantown, neighborhoods and schools are main concerns (10/19/99)
'What changes would you like to see in your neighborhood once the new mayor takes office?"

That's the question we're asking people from neighborhoods all over Philadelphia. Below is the tenth of a series of 11 "Neighborhood Dialogues" that will run right up to voting day. Our focus in this dialogue is Germantown. Participants were chosen from among people involved in the Citizen Voices project. Sheila Laney, an office manager, has lived in Germantown since 1975, and Judith Callard, an editor at the Germantown Historical Society, has lived there since 1967. They spoke recently to Commentary Page editor John Timpane.

At 2d TV mayoral debate, sound bites to chew upon (10/18/99)
The 200 Philadelphians gathered in a large theater at the University of Pennsylvania wanted to learn about the two major party mayoral candidates' positions on schools, jobs, taxes, crime and race relations. What they got were sound bites, some of which were responsive and some not.

Wage-tax theories: Whom do you trust? (10/17/99)
Sam Katz assures residents he can slash the levy painlessly. John F. Street says it’s been tried.

The core issue
On schools, candidates differ on which risks to take on the road to reform. (10/17/99)
The last time Philadelphians elected a mayor, education was barely a blip on the candidates' radar screen. A new superintendent, David W. Hornbeck, had just begun his second academic year, and - while issues in the sprawling system loomed large - there was little public agitation for the mayor to be more accountable for the schools.

Coming to the aid of their party (10/17/99)
Cars were double-parked on a corner in Frankford Wednesday night as dozens of Democratic Party volunteers crowded into a community center for a pep talk from Marty Weinberg. Weinberg, who lost in the May Democratic primary for mayor, appealed to his old supporters to do one last thing for him - "Work as hard for John Street as you did for me."

Street attacks and also gets defensive (10/16/99)
Faced with a tightening mayoral race, Democratic candidate John F. Street spent a considerable amount of time last night attacking Republican Sam Katz and defending himself before an overwhelmingly Democratic, African American audience in Germantown.

Candidates' cool withers under fire (10/15/99)
Campaign fatigue has arrived. At a mayoral forum yesterday, John Street and Sam Katz both failed the cranky test in front of a room of 50 senior citizens

Street, Katz woo seniors, business (10/15/99)
Mayoral candidates John F. Street and Sam Katz took their campaigns to a feisty roomful of senior citizens and a university auditorium lined with the region's business elite yesterday.

Section 8 needs cleanup, Street says in Northeast
(10/15/99)
Appealing for votes yesterday in Northeast Philadelphia, John F. Street plunged into the most explosive political issue in that part of the city: the Section 8 housing program, which provides rent assistance to low-income families and some homeless people.

Katz explains how his plan would lower city wage taxes
(10/15/99)
Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz unveiled his long-awaited tax cut plan yesterday, explaining how he would cut the wage tax to 4 percent by 2004 in the hopes of attracting employers and retaining residents.

In the trenches
Pay attention to the neighborhoods, and help residents help themselves.
(10/15/99)
It's not unusual for Betty Britton and her neighbors to hustle after a trash truck with bucket and broom in hand. Their mission: To tidy up after the weekly pickup in their North Philadelphia neighborhood.

Candidates tackling issues of children in Philadelphia
(10/14/99)
Speaking last night before a group that wants to see more money spent on Philadelphia's children, mayoral candidates Sam Katz and John F. Street each pledged to create a new office of child care that would be charged with pulling together the city's disparate child-care programs.

Crime and safety
From more police to prevention efforts, candidates address the issue and its causes.
(10/14/99)
Reducing the fear and reality of crime in every neighborhood will be one of the major challenges for the mayor whom Philadelphians will elect next month.

In yet another debate, Street and Katz face off (10/13/99)
Democrat John F. Street and Republican Sam Katz took their act on the road again yesterday - this time to the studios of KYW-AM (1060), where they traded barbs and opinions on a familiar litany of issues ranging from taxes to school reform.

Katz often away during his stint on school board (10/13/99)
Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz missed nearly 30 percent of the meetings during his three years on the Philadelphia Board of Education, an Inquirer review has found..

The Web and spinning (10/12/99)
In a perfect world, candidates for elected office would never exaggerate, take words out of context, make unfounded accusations or play loose with numbers. But, last time we looked, politics wasn't perfect.

Fox Chase residents emphasize the need to improve education (10/12/99)
'What changes would you like to see in your neighborhood once the new mayor takes office?" That's the question we're asking people from neighborhoods all over Philadelphia.

At mayoral forum in Olney, neighborhood issues are first (10/11/99)
Sam Katz spoke of neighborhood residents as customers who needed to be better served. John F. Street regaled the crowd with tales of abandoned cars set on fire in his neighborhood.

EPOP quiz (10/11/99)
If Philadelphia's at-risk neighborhoods are going to be stabilized, committed neighbors will have to help do it. So the Eastern Philadelphia Organizing Project, also known as EPOP, gets congratulations for proposing a solution to the city's abandoned car problem, and for having the political savvy to turn it into an issue in the mayor's race.

Race is the subtle player in campaign (10/10/99)
With just over three weeks remaining before Election Day, a Philadelphia mayor's race that always figured to be reasonably close appears headed for a tense finish.

Attack ads have little impact (10/10/99)
Talk about a tough week. Sunday, the power went out on Brill Street. Actually, it fizzled on Carol Stewart's half of Brill Street, just as she was about to watch the mayoral debate on TV.

Street comes late to the party (10/10/99)
You may have missed it, what with the hectic life you lead, but the John Street campaign did something odd last week. They fired John Street.

What mayor should do for neighborhoods (10/09/99)
The real issues in the mayoral election are not endorsements or political fund-raising, but the quality of life in the neighborhoods that are the heart and soul of Philadelphia.

Katz and Street intensify negative campaign on TV and radio (10/09/99)
Tension in the mayoral contest between Democrat John F. Street and Republican Sam Katz crackled on the airwaves and over fax machines yesterday in new radio and television commercials that amounted to another sort of contest: Who's more negative - Street or Katz?

A lesson for Street (10/08/99)
Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News and a man who revels in being thought of as a political force, has a big problem this year. Segal is a Democrat, but he's on record calling the party's candidate for mayor, John F. Street, "the epitome of a homophobe" seven months ago.

Mayoral candidates disagree about how to stop brain drain (10/08/99)
Long a hidden giant of the region's economy, higher education - and concern over a brain drain of talented young graduates away from the area - found marquee status yesterday as an issue in the mayor's race.

Timoney relieved by candidates' backing (10/08/99)
John F. Timoney says he "definitely" wants to remain police commissioner of Philadelphia and would agree to serve under either of the two major candidates for mayor.

What polls don't say about mayor's race (10/07/99)
The polls suggest that with a month left before election day, the mayoral race between Sam Katz and John Street is virtually a dead heat. The heat is dead because neither candidate has generated much passion among his base; because of that, many voters are undecided.

With Sam Katz looking strong, a John Street ad changes the tone with guesswork and unsubstantiated numbers. (10/07/99)
Here comes the nasty. The advertising war in the race for mayor, a pretty civil war until now, took a decidedly negative turn yesterday with the latest 30-second television spot from Democrat John Street.

Clinton to visit Phila. to back Street for mayor (10/07/99)
In what could become the climax of John F. Street's campaign for mayor, President Clinton is scheduled to come to Philadelphia on Oct. 29 to rally support for the Democratic nominee. Street's greatest advantage in his battle against Republican Sam Katz is that Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city by a 4-1 ratio.

How the 3d candidate seeks to build a base (10/07/99)
John P. McDermott, the Constitutional Party candidate, is the third man in the mayoral election. McDermott has virtually no money, supporters or chance of winning. Yet he is running, he says, because he wants to help build up the base of the Constitutional Party in the city.

Vehicle eyesores are topic of forum (10/07/99)
A coalition of church and community groups yesterday made a novel proposal for dealing with the epidemic of rusted, rat-infested, trash-filled abandoned cars on the streets of the city: Plaster the smiling faces of the two mayoral candidates all over those eyesores.

Fumo expected to do an about-face (10/06/99)
After his loss in the Democratic mayoral primary in May, Marty Weinberg and many from his inner circle endorsed the victor, John F. Street. Yet to be heard from, however, has been State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, one of Weinberg's main men. Before the primary, Fumo said a Street victory would be "a disaster for the city.".

Katz ad strikes back at Street (10/06/99)
After taking a pounding from John F. Street for nine days, Sam Katz fired back yesterday in a radio commercial that accused Street of running a negative campaign for mayor.

What candidates say about tax cuts (10/05/99)
Early in his first term, Mayor Rendell tackled the city's financial crisis with zest and notable success: He cut the budget, negotiated spartan contracts with city-employee unions, and saved the city from bankruptcy. His performance dealing with another problem - high taxes - has not been nearly as spectacular.

Street, allies call Katz rash on wage tax (10/05/99)
Sensing that the race to succeed Ed Rendell has tightened, Democrat John F. Street yesterday intensified his attacks on Sam Katz and called on prominent Democrats, including Rendell himself, to depict the Republican's tax proposals as scary and irresponsible.

No budget boost is expected for parks (10/05/99)
Mayoral candidates John F. Street and Sam Katz did their best last night to dress up the bad news that neither of them, if elected, would provide city parks with additional money.

Tayoun first with election postmortem (10/05/99)
Author, newspaper publisher, ex-con, and consummate Philadelphia politician Jimmy Tayoun walked candidate John Street through a South Philadelphia meet-and-greet the other day and revealed this nugget: Sam Katz lost the race months ago.

Street campaign takes heat over some no-show dates (10/03/99)
Five weeks before the Philadelphia mayoral election, neighborhood and civic groups across the city are complaining about a lack of communication from the John F. Street campaign and his absences at political forums

Katz, Street goaded into new positions (10/03/99)
Amid the glare of their first televised debate, mayoral candidates John F. Street and Sam Katz goaded each other yesterday into declaring positions on issues they had been reluctant to confront.

Head of NAACP lauds Katz, criticizes Street (10/02/99)
Philadelphia NAACP head J. Whyatt Mondesire tiptoed up to the line, but stopped just short of endorsing Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz in a radio interview broadcast yesterday.

Eager to deal, but not like Ed (10/01/99)
What Ed Rendell wouldn't do to make a deal. He danced on a stage at the Hard Rock Cafe, spelling out Y-M-C-A with his body to the Village People song, at a bash for Democratic Party officials considering Philadelphia as a convention site.

Fernandez decides to back Katz for mayor (10/01/99)
That former Democratic Councilwoman Happy Fernandez endorsed Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz yesterday is not a surprise. The surprise is that the city's first serious female mayoral candidate endorsed anyone at all.

Street's voucher stance is laughable (10/01/99)
One aspect of the education debate in the mayoral campaign has gotten far too little attention, and it is this: John Street's position is mostly bunk.

Citizen Voices '99 (9/30/99)
They say it's been eerily quiet. They say there aren't any big issues. On the first point, "they" might have a point. Since Labor Day, the Philadelphia mayor's race hasn't exactly been a cascade of memorable moments.

In mayoral-race advertising, the low road remains untaken (9/30/99)
In television advertising in Philadelphia's mayoral campaign, both Democrat John F. Street and Republican Sam Katz have held pretty much to the high road - so far, at least.

On education, Street and Katz square off - or maybe agree (9/29/99)
"Radical, radical, radical." John F. Street used the word three times in a row yesterday to describe Sam Katz's positions on public education.

Street fails to sway gay audience (9/28/99)
Democratic mayoral candidate John F. Street last night spent an hour speaking to a politely hostile audience of gay and lesbian community members.

Sam Katz's other big bet: An Indian casino (9/28/99)
SAN PABLO, Calif. - Sam Katz has two large bets riding at the moment: that he can buck 50 years of tradition and get elected mayor of Philadelphia as a Republican, and that a small tribe of Indians can bring full-fledged casino gambling to this gritty little municipality just inside the Golden Gate.

After making money for others, Sam Katz heads out on his own (9/27/99)
Golf courses. Ice skating rinks. Family entertainment centers. A racetrack for sports-car enthusiasts. These are among the ventures into which Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz has sunk his time and money over the last five years with the aim - as yet unrealized - of becoming independently wealthy.

Business and politics mix in Sam Katz's arena (9/26/99)
Sam Katz may not be the businessman you think he is. In his campaigns for mayor, governor, and now mayor again, the Philadelphia Republican has crafted a picture of himself as a buttoned-down corporate type, a manager primarily.

New Street ad takes on Katz over education spending The spot focuses on Katz's support of school vouchers. A Katz spokesman said Street was "just throwing mud." (9/25/99)
Democratic mayoral nominee John F. Street plans to launch a "contrast" ad tomorrow that aggressively points out differences between him and Republican nominee Sam Katz on educational issues.

In mayor's race, a push to sway the swing voter New television ads are trying to show that Sam Katz and John F. Street can transcend racial and party lines. (9/24/99)
It was hard to miss. A mayor's race that has seemed so lackluster burst into the public arena yesterday. The two major candidates changed advertising strategies from soft ads about nice guys with good ideas to direct appeals to swing voters that crossed racial and party lines.

Street says, if elected, he will sue gun makers (9/22/99)
Democratic mayoral nominee John F. Street announced yesterday that if elected, he would sue gun manufacturers for flooding the markets with guns that fall into the hands of criminals and children.

At event in Grays Ferry, Katz takes heat on ties to White (9/22/99)
Sam Katz, who recently scored a political coup by getting the endorsement of former Democratic mayoral candidate John White Jr., found out in Grays Ferry last night that White's backing has a downside.

So far, it's a yawn (9/22/99)
In exactly 41 days, a remarkable thing is going to happen in the city of Philadelphia. Voters may turn over the reins of power in City Hall to a Republican for the first time since Harry Truman was in the White House and the Athletics played baseball in Shibe Park.

Taxes, crime and racial issues are key concerns in Roxborough (9/21/99)
What changes would you like to see in your neighborhood once the new mayor takes office?"That's the question we're asking people from neighborhoods all over Philadelphia. Below is the sixth of a series of 11 "Neighborhood Dialogues" that will run right up to voting day

City's life in voters' hands (9/21/99)
The most important question to be decided in the current Philadelphia mayoral campaign may have less to do with the candidates than the voters. It is this: Do Philadelphians realize this election is a matter of life or death for the city?

How John Street plays the fund-raising game (9/21/99)
John Street laughs as he tells a story about how, early in his mayoral campaign, he unknowingly did something that upset a businessman who does work for the city. Actually, it was something he didn't do.

A small, loyal cadre already has benefited from Street's succes (9/20/99)
In a political world of easy handshakes and fleeting friendships, John Street has cultivated intensely loyal relationships with a small group of men, some of whom have become wealthy thanks to their association with the former City Council president.

Grasp of detail, power shows 2 sides of Street (9/19/99)
These are among the fruits of John F. Street's labor on City Council: a city saved from financial ruin, balanced budgets, a tough anti-panhandling law, and more than $100 million in housing development in his long-suffering North Philadelphia neighborhood.

To address problems such as public education and quality of life, candidates need sound fiscal policies. (9/16/99)
Yo, people, the Philadelphia mayoral election really is important, especially when it comes to the economy. Although Mayor Rendell may have put the city back on its feet, there is no assurance that it will remain there.

A boost for GOP mayoral hopes (9/15/99)
The stunning move by John White Jr. yesterday to endorse Sam Katz for mayor could provide Katz a big boost in his bid to become the city's first Republican chief executive in a half-century.

Katz pledges to support plans for shipyard (9/15/99)
Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz yesterday pledged, if elected, to support the conversion of the former Philadelphia Naval Base into a commercial shipyard.

White's blessing a catch for Katz (9/15/99)
The Ferrick Commission is back from summer vacation to fill your instant political analysis needs.

With his endorsement of Katz, White signaled rejection of Street (9/15/99)
In endorsing Sam Katz for mayor, John White Jr. tried to prevent his decision from being seen as a personal rejection of John Street. But the biggest event of the campaign to date could not be seen any other way.

Saidel, Katz assail stadium plans (9/14/99)
Already with no shortage of critics of his fragile stadium initiative, Mayor Rendell ran into two more naysayers yesterday - City Controller Jonathan Saidel and the Republican mayoral candidate, Sam Katz.

Street speaks against vouchers but leaves door open (9/14/99)
Standing in front of a public elementary school yesterday with four young students at his side, Democratic mayoral candidate John F. Street said he opposed school vouchers but would not rule out supporting them in exchange for substantially more state education funding.

White expected to endorse Katz (9/14/99)
Former Democratic mayoral candidate John White has agreed to ignore party ties and endorse Republican Sam Katz in the general election, people close to the campaign said - a move that Katz supporters hope will trigger bipartisan support on a citywide scale.

3d parties: Small, but driven (9/12/99)
The Greens are up in Fairmount, operating out of a storefront decorated with environmentalist and anti-corporate-welfare bumper stickers. The Socialist Workers are plotting their campaign strategies in a leftist bookstore on South Street. The Reform Party is in an Old City apartment.

The men who would be king (9/12/99)
Where is that darned, elusive John Street? The Democratic candidate for mayor was nearly invisible over the summer. The buzz around town is that it's tough to get any callbacks from his campaign.

City Hall Notebook (9/12/99)
Democratic nominee John F. Street's first television ad of the general election started Friday with a couple of subtle clues for the viewer.

Governor condemns Street's school plan (9/10/99)
Injecting himself into the Philadelphia mayor's race, Gov. Ridge yesterday sharply criticized a proposal by Democrat John F. Street to give some control of the city schools to a state authority.

Street calls for state oversight of school district finances (9/8/99)
On the first day of school, Democratic mayoral nominee John F. Street predicted that if the state doesn't increase aid to the city's struggling public schools, strides made in the last few years will disappear by next September.

Street and Katz pledge to work it out with unions (9/7/99)
At midmorning yesterday, Democrat John F. Street was teetering on a temporary platform in Center City, proclaiming that he is the one candidate for mayor who understands the needs of working people.

Mayoral race comes down to 8-week sprint (9/5/99)
The Philadelphia mayor's race that began more than two years ago and has already set a spending record will come sweeping toward its climax in the next eight weeks.

City Hall Notebook (9/5/99)
In politics, as in war, yesterday's foe could be today's friend.
Two political pros who worked hard throughout the winter and spring to defeat John F. Street in the Democratic mayoral primary have joined his campaign team.

Sam Katz is taking nothing for granted in mayor's race (9/1/99)
After the primary last May, Sam Katz thought he had a chance to be Philadelphia's next mayor. Now, he's sure he does.

Primary foes slow to cheer for Street (9/1/99)
After winning the Democratic mayoral primary on May 18, John F. Street said his first priority was to reach out for the support of his defeated foes. Fifteen weeks later, he is still reaching.

Area's Latinas show unity at march (8/30/99)
Their wages are among the lowest in the nation, their access to child health care limited, and their communities among the most economically deprived in the United States.

Deliver city services swiftly, consistently (8/24/99)
What changes would you like to see in your neighborhood once the new mayor takes office? That's the question we're asking people from neighborhoods all over Philadelphia.

Katz camp refutes attack from an out-of-towner (8/22/99)
In a campaign, candidates often shy away from saying mean things about their opponents. That would look like mud-slinging. So they let surrogates say the mean things.

City's unions still looking for a favorite in mayoral race (8/21/99)
When the AFL-CIO endorsed Democratic candidate John F. Street earlier this week during a news conference at union headquarters, leaders of unions representing 23,000 city workers were silent.

If elected, Katz says, he'd consider selling PGW (8/20/99)
Sam Katz said yesterday that, if elected mayor, he would consider selling the Philadelphia Gas Works or turning over management of the city-owned utility to a private company.

Touring Logan, Katz calls for more aid (8/19/99)
Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz expressed moral outrage as he ambled down the blighted streets of Logan yesterday, saying the neighborhood of sinking homes should not be ignored.

Local AFL-CIO council endorses Street (8/17/99)
Leaders of the AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council endorsed Democrat John F. Street for mayor yesterday, calling the former City Council president a "champion of working families."

Street sticking close to home on summer vacation (8/15/99)
After weeks of waiting and wondering, the Notebook has finally learned where Democratic mayoral candidate John F. Street will go on his summer vacation.

Making book on mayor's race (8/8/99)
For pollsters, media advisers and other political professionals, the major trade journal is Campaigns & Elections, edited out of Washington by Ron Faucheux.

Mayor's race gets 3d face (8/3/99)
Look out, John Street and Sam Katz, you won't have the bully pulpit all to yourselves. John P. McDermott, 48, filed about 4,500 signatures to run as the Constitutional Party candidate for mayor by yesterday's 5 p.m. deadline for independent candidates.

Katz puts early TV campaign into gear (7/29/99)
In an unusual move for the dog days of summer, Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz has started airing television ads to boost his chances in the November election.

Street campaign will get national Democratic aid (7/28/99)
In a new campaign to push for Democratic mayoral victories around the country, the Democratic National Committee announced yesterday that it is putting its money and muscle behind the candidacy of John Street.

City Hall Notebook: Katz spends some `quiet time' in close quarters (7/25/99)
As part of the Notebook's continuing coverage of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," here's some sizzle on the mayoral front.

Welker files federal suit alleging vote fraud (7/15/99)
Julie Welker, a candidate for John F. Street's old City Council seat in the May 18 Democratic primary, yesterday filed a federal lawsuit alleging that her opponent -- Darrell Clarke -- and Street's political organization stole the election from her with a conspiracy to commit vote fraud.

Katz asks city to wait on PGW (7/15/99)
Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz yesterday asked Mayor Rendell not to "tie the next mayor's hands" by making any "long-term commitments" on the future of the Philadelphia Gas Works.

Welker drops challenge of election vote (7/14/99)
Julie Welker, who was a Democratic candidate for John F. Street's old Fifth District City Council seat in the May 18 primary, has withdrawn a challenge of the election results, which she says were affected by fraudulent votes.

Courting White, Katz comes clean on attack ads (7/11/99)
A visitor showed up recently at the Wynnefield home of John White Jr., former Democratic mayoral candidate. It was Sam Katz, the Republican nominee.

Katz: Limit campaign donations (7/7/99)
Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz yesterday called on Gov. Ridge and the GOP-controlled legislature to enact campaign-finance laws that would limit the size of contributions and stiffen penalties for failure to report donations.

City Hall Notebook There will be no hot stuff at this party for Street(7/4/99)
You'd think that after almost 20 years in the eye of the storm in City Hall, a rigorous personal fitness routine and several tough elections, Democratic mayoral nominee John F. Street would like it hot. But he doesn't.

City Hall Notebook Katz conspicuously absent at GOP's Bush love-in (6/27/99)
Last week's outpouring of affection for George W. Bush at the Center City Park Hyatt Hotel drew all of the state's Republican heavyweights, from Gov. Ridge on down.

Finally, it's official: Weinberg for Street (6/25/99)
Amid talk of party unity, the runner-up's mayoral endorsement came -- 37 days after the Democratic primary.

Yes to charter change. Vote is another step toward better schools. (6/24/99)
Accountability for the success or failure of Philadelphia public schools belongs with a single elected official: the mayor.

Weinberg set to support S treet for Phila. mayor (6/24/99)
The ex-rival's support could help unite Democrats. John White Jr. has not decided on a n endorsement.

Street, Weinberg meet for lunch(6/22/99)
Street wants his rival in the mayoral primary to back him. Both described the discussion in vague terms.

Phila. mayoral candidates spent $15 million in primary(6/18/99)
Marty Weinberg shelled out the most, $5.7 million. Democratic victor John F. Street spent $3.2 million.

Street spokesman leaving to aid Missouri candidate(6/16/99)
John F. Street is losing his mouthpiece.

Street and Weinberg meet to begin mending party fences(6/15/99)
U.S. Rep. Robert A. Brady, Phila.'s Democratic chairman, arranged the meeting of the bitter mayoral-primary rivals.

City Hall Notebook - Rendell and Weinberg are good sports after all(6/13/99)
Marty Weinberg won't get to be mayor, but he did get to sit in the mayor's box for a much-anticipated Phillies-Yankees game last week -- thanks to the man who opposed his candidacy, Ed Rendell.

Democrats urging Rendell to make a run for the U.S. Senate (6/9/99)
They hope to recapture the Senate from the GOP in 2000. He said he will consider the option, but has reservations.

Building blocks(6/8/99)
Residents need Temple, and vice versa.

Welker's petition contests election (6/8/99)
It is the latest step in determining a winner in the 5th District Council race. The filing questions signatures and addresses.

High-tech history set to debut in Center City (6/8/99)
The show ``Lights of Liberty'' will premiere July 8. Independence National Historical Park is the stage.

At county fair, Rendell brings home the bacon (6/7/99)
There was a time when Mayor Rendell balked at the sometimes humiliating requirements of being the city's top cheerleader.

Here's why candidates aren't always on the money (5/30/99)
You say Sunteena, I say Synterra. Let's call the whole thing a sloppy campaign-finance report done by Democratic mayoral nominee John F. Street.

Happy Fernandez is happy 'living a life of leisure' (5/28/99)
The first female major-party candidate for mayor is biding time. One thing she won't do: Run for office again.

For candidate Street, the November election is now (5/27/99)
Back from a quick vacation, John F. Street says he's ready to do the footwork to be mayor.

City to focus on its most violent youths (5/27/99)
Specific young people at serious risk of killing - and being killed - will be closely monitored and mentored.

So much spent, so much still to go (5/24/99)
In the mayoral contest, big money does not ensure a win. But such backing is needed to be competitive.

To the end, the candidates had a style of their own (5/23/99)
The election-night parties held by the mayoral hopefuls were as different as the candidates themselves. John White Jr.'s bare-bones campaign offered pigs-in-a-blanket and meatballs, while Marty Weinberg's lavishly funded operation served smoked trout canapes and miniature quiche.

Assumptions felled Street's foes (5/23/99)
John F. Street marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Now there was a sight.

Fifth District contest still undecided(5/20/99)
The winner of the extremely close race for John F. Street's old City Council seat won't be known until votes are officially tallied, a process that begins tomorrow, an Election Board official said yesterday.

From moyor to chief chearleader(5/20/99)
What's in Rendell's future? He'll be pushing city tourism in 7 volunteer posts. Those jobs may pay off politically.

Blacks flocked to Street(5/20/99)
They decided not to risk splitting the vote and giving Weinberg a win.

Street, Katz set stage for fall battle(5/20/99)
After a bitter primary, the Democratic nominee called for unity. He and his GOP rival made the rounds yesterday.

A good day for election watchdog(5/19/99)
From broken levers to un-updated records, glitches were reported to be relatively minor.

A GOP stake in a Street win(5/19/99)
Sam Katz, the unopposed Republican, wielded his cash to position himself for a fall victory.

Cohen to get another seat on Council(5/19/99)
Ortiz and Kenney are also renominated in the at-large race. Goode's son and an ex-aide to Fattah win.

Vote tallies for mayor(5/19/99)

Street wins mayoral primary, beats Weinberg, faces Katz in Nov.(5/19/99)
John F. Street, a onetime community activist and hot-dog vendor who became one of the most powerful people in city government, won yesterday's Democratic primary for mayor, according to nearly complete, unofficial returns.Street held a comfortable lead over his main rival, Marty Weinberg.

Today, voters in Pa. get their way(5/18/99)
The region's big-name race is the Democratic nod for Phila. mayor. But there are other hot local contests.

An untimely pause for Evans as his campaign rolls along(5/17/99)
Democratic mayoral candidate Dwight Evans and his entourage hit a pothole of sorts over the weekend as they blew through the Northeast on Evans' all-night campaign adventure.

One last Sunday spent courting voters(5/17/99)
Over eggs and sermons, candidates for mayor campaign to cement support

And the winner (maybe) is ...(5/16/99)
The Ferrick Commission has fulfilled its solemn duty as Official Handicapper of the 1999 Mayor's Race.

Counting of the absentee ballots about to begin(5/16/99)
Some 5,385 Philadelphia voters were mailed absentee ballots for Tuesday's primary.

Mayor's race down to field work(5/16/99)
Campaigns plan sweep of the city for voters

On Tuesday, contest will be a nail-biter(5/16/99)
Two years of politicking, $12 million in spending, thousands of hours on the stump, four live TV debates -- and it all comes down to this: a cliffhanger.

Weinberg camp denies sponsoring anti-Street ads(5/15/99)
A mayor's race that has already given us the bogus candidate Web page has now spawned the mystery phone bank.

Street ad charges Weinberg with raising race issue(5/15/99)
It is Street's first attack ad. Weinberg's camp responded by leveling the same charge at Street.

White's finances gain as primary day nears(5/15/99)
When last the mayoral candidates filed campaign finance reports, John White Jr. had raised the least amount of money.

'Undecided' bloc could be swing vote(5/14/99)
It is four days from the Democratic mayoral primary.

White keeps plugging, smooth and steady(5/14/99)
In the crowded auditorium of a Mount Airy middle school, John White Jr. glides into preacher mode.

Weinberg campaign escalates attacks on Street(5/14/99)
A fourth negative TV spot aired yesterday, and city residents reported phone calls disparaging Street.

Mayoral candidates continue to attack eachother with ads(5/13/99)
Just to recap: Mayoral candidate Marty Weinberg has been running ads attacking Democratic rival John F. Street. Republican Sam Katz has released ads smacking Weinberg and another Democrat, John White Jr. Weinberg has run a radio spot that blames Street for attacking him.

Street ignores attacks, talks issues(5/13/99)
Even before he began his run for mayor, John F. Street knew his biggest obstacle wouldn't be money -- he could raise plenty.

Other election issues(5/13/99)
Having accepted the fact that t he next mayor of Philadelphia will have nothing of the Ed Rendell twinkle, I am prepared to vote for Happy Fernandez.

Candidates agree: Mayor's control of School Board should increase(5/13/99)
No job is harder for a big-city mayor than improving the schools.

Katz recent ad blitz can be misleading about White's record(5/13/99)
John White Jr. is a man with a long resume -- member of City Council, state welfare secretary, executive director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority -- and Sam Katz, in a series of radio and televison ads, is attacking his performance in all those jobs.

Where Katz's ads stretch the truth about Weinberg (5/12/99)
Some of the content is true, some seems like a straying from the truth, and some of the details are too old to confirm.

How mayoral hopefuls would cultivate city's arts (5/11/99)
Marty Weinberg took ballet as a child, and has a composer for a brother. Does that mean that a Mayor Weinberg would raise money for the Regional Performing Arts Center the way Ed Rendell has?