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If it wasn’t an election, it could have been a Village People concert. On the streets of South Philly on Tuesday, doctors in white coats and blue or green scrubs gave out literature for their colleague, state Senate challenger Dr. Jim Tayoun. Construction workers in yellow T-shirts were putting their muscle behind union-friendly state Rep. Bill Keller. Other blue-shirted workers wore the name of Keller’s challenger, Mark Squilla. Police officers manned a polling place here and there.
All that was missing was the Indian chief.
Sure, the polling places had more workers than voters at some points of the day, but this might have been one of the neighborhood’s more colorful elections.
The candidates were out and about, greeting potential supporters. A recording of DJ Bob Pantano’s voice blared from a school bus and other vehicles canvassing the streets, imploring voters to pull the levers for Keller and state Sen. Vince Fumo.
In a primary with several contested races, few political players seemed willing to take any chances.
7 a.m.
St. Monica’s Bowling Alley
26th Ward, Seventh and Eighth divisions
Early-morning voters are small in number at 16th and Shunk, but election officials expect turnout to get heavier as the day progresses.
"We are not looking for a big turnout, but it will pick up — maybe around 4:30 or 5 p.m.," says Republican committeeman Perry Petrongola.
A supporter of Democratic state Senate challenger Tayoun is at the polling place, urging voters to choose his candidate.
The GOP also is represented during the breakfast hour.
"I stand behind the President and the Republican party," says voter Luca Foglia. "I stand behind Bush, [U.S. Sen. Arlen] Specter and [Attorney General candidate Tom] Corbett."
One candidate is getting a very early start in appealing to voters, considering he faces no opponent until November.
Joseph Apple, Republican challenger for the 185th State House District, will run against Democratic incumbent Robert Donatucci in the general election because, he says, "the people in the area do not have a voice in Harrisburg."
2:50 p.m.
17th Police District
36th Ward, Third Division
While waiting for voters, staffers are occupying themselves by tallying polls, handing out fliers and operating machines at 20th and Federal streets.
Poll workers are confident it will get busier.
Kim Linder, of the 1700 block of South 18th Street, says, "There haven’t been any problems and the crowd usually picks up after work."
3:20 p.m.
Palumbo Elementary School
Second Ward, Ninth Division
As children are picked up from school, the corner of 11th and Catharine is crowded — with poll workers and voters.
Handing out fliers are Martin Brennan and Jeffrey Hanes, who don’t yet have an official count on turnout at their polling place. They add that the traffic usually picks up around 3:30 or 4 p.m.
The workers comment there have been "no problems" at the polls because it is a primary, not a general election.
3:25 p.m.
Palumbo Recreation Center
Poll worker Job Itzkowitz watches as more voters stroll into the center at 10th and Fitzwater streets.
"We are not going to have what we had in November, obviously, but it has started to pick up after a slow afternoon," he says.
Another worker, Emily Myers, agrees.
"There’s always a real low turnout for primaries, especially since there is no [contested presidential race]."
Most workers outside the polling place have been backing specific candidates all day. Dr. Steve Opsasanick traveled from upstate Pennsylvania to show his support for Tayoun.
"We’ve had a lot of positive feedback for Jim in terms of what he’s running for. He’s up for a fight because of the incumbent, but we’re hopeful," Opsasanick says. "We’re trying to do whatever we can to help him."
Mable Mayhew has been handing out the candidate’s fliers to passing drivers all day. For her, the political choice is a matter of allegiance.
"I like Tayoun and I voted for his father," she says.
Two local members of the political watchdog group Committee of Seventy — Debbie Tucci, of 12th and Reed, and Nick Giovannucci, of 10th and Ellsworth — have no problems to report with the voting process.
"We’re covering the First and Second wards and about 10 to 15 percent of the population have come out and voted, but they are looking to pick it up now that it’s after school and work," Tucci says.
Adds Giovannucci: "It’s about normal for the primary and since it’s mostly Democratic, the Republicans don’t have much work to do."
Tucci points out, however, that the tight U.S. Senate race between Philadelphia resident Specter and Lehigh County’s Pat Toomey is receiving national coverage.
4:30 p.m.
A.S. Jenks School
39th Ward, 31st, 42nd and 43rd divisions
The considerable crowd outside the school is wearing its political preference on its sleeve — and everywhere else.
Many outside the building at 13th and Porter streets are decked out in blue Mark Squilla shirts, while Dr. Gerard Vernose, wearing white coat and stethoscope, expresses encouragement for fellow South Philly physician Tayoun.
"I think he’s holding his own," Vernose says. "I don’t even care if he loses, just as long as he’s close. I like what he stands for — he’s thinking about the medical part of the community."
As two voters, mother and daughter, walk out of the polls, they stop to talk with Dr. Vernose. Tara and Adeline Bartholetti, of 11th and Wolf streets, believe the media might have an influence on the election.
Adeline plays coy about revealing her vote: "I helped someone who was running and I just hope he wins. I won’t give away any names, but he is a doctor."
4:45 p.m.
Thomas Middle School
39th Ward, 44th Division
Turnout is so light at Ninth and Johnston streets that election officials outnumber voters. But officials are still waiting for bigger crowds.
"There’s been more than 100 voters so far," says one poll worker.
Voter Tom Reganato opines the "same crew" will most likely win.
"Fumo, Keller and all the others are going to get it," he says.
Diane Hartery is hoping for a reshuffling of some of the local seats.
"There needs to be a change," she says. "We need somebody who will fight for affordable healthcare for seniors."
5 p.m.
Fell School
39th Ward, Fourth, 12th and 29th divisions
Even at this usually well-traveled polling place at Ninth and Oregon,
voters are not showing up in the numbers election officials expected.
"After dinner, it should get busier," says poll worker Richard Nawalamy. "People come home from work, eat, then come out to vote."
5:15 p.m.
Vare Charter School
48th Ward, Ninth Division
The poll at 24th and Jackson lacks any discernable signs that an actual election is being held.
Instead of being greeted by obligatory posters of mugging politicians or union placards, voters watch a group of neighborhood kids play a pickup game of basketball in the otherwise deserted parking lot.
"Things always pick up after 5 o’clock, when the working crowd gets home," offers volunteer Sally Mollo.
The turnout has been good, another volunteer says, mentioning that a steady stream of Democratic voters has come through the school’s doors.
"We started out great this morning, with a lot of people coming in twos and threes," Mollo says, propping herself up in her chair.
With that, the group of volunteers turns its attention longingly to the empty parking lot, waiting for more groups of twos and threes.
5:30 p.m.
Thomas F. Donatucci Library
26th Ward, 13th Division
Scandal is the word of the day for Tayoun supporters sitting outside the newly renamed library (formerly the Passyunk Branch) at 20th and Shunk.
Lorraine Pomante and JoAnn DiStefano, who both work in Tayoun’s office, are livid at the mere mention of Fumo supporters who allegedly posed as doctors and stood outside St. Agnes Medical Center.
"I think it’s a disgrace that someone would stoop so low to win — or to try to win," DiStefano remarks.
Paula Terreri — a Republican who unsuccessfully challenged Anna Verna in the Second Council District last year — says she crossed party lines because of Tayoun’s integrity. She is incensed at the prospect of the phony doctors.
"Imagine what would have happened if someone ran up to one of those fakes and needed help," Terreri says.
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All three women agree the day’s turnout, although slower than that of a general election, is good for Tayoun nonetheless.
"Twenty-six years on the job doesn’t mean that all of them have been good ones, or that he deserves a few more," Pomante says of Fumo while turning to greet more voters.
5:58 p.m.
13th and Mifflin streets
39th Ward, 30th Division
The irony of standing outside his adversary’s childhood home was not at all lost on Jim Tayoun, who paused for a moment to chat with some fellow doctors.
The allegations about Fumo supporters posing as physicians already have reached Tayoun, who chuckles at the suggestion that he should be irritated by the news.
"It’s flattering when people aspire to do what you do," Tayoun muses. "It tells me that what we’re doing is working — that our message is being heard loud and clear."
The doctor says his run for office is a success, regardless of the election’s outcome.
"I feel like we made a difference. I’ve been touched by a lot of people who have come out to support me. They tell me not to worry about anything — although I say check back with me later tonight," Tayoun laughs.
With that, the challenger is off to visit more of his supporters, but not before offering a parting shot at Fumo.
"I feel good about everything," Tayoun says. "We showed people that they have a choice, that they can elect someone who will visit them other than just on Election Day."
6:23 p.m.
1306 Geary St.
39th Ward, 14th Division
"He seems pretty optimistic," Republican Sal Lucchesi says of Bill Keller, who had stopped by minutes earlier to greet voters. "He said he felt like everything was going well for him."
Lucchesi says voters have been streaming in and out all day, with the heaviest traffic coming between 10 a.m. and noon.
"We expect that things will get busy again after dinner. It almost always works that way," Lucchesi says assuredly.
For community activist and attorney Rich DeMarco, the long day was worthwhile because of the competitive nature of the election.
"The primary challengers are very healthy for our democracy," DeMarco says. "It draws people’s attention back to the issues, which is wonderful."
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By Alexis Abate, David Gambacorta and Anthony Scafide
Managing editor Sheri Brenner contributed to this report.
Numbers in the locally contested races
State Senate
District 1
Vincent Fumo (D) 20,300
James Tayoun (D) 11,801
With 95 percent of precincts reporting
State House
District 175
Marie Lederer (D) 3,302
Sheila Ballen (D) 2,006
With 95 percent of precincts reporting
District 182
Babette Josephs (D) 3,515
Andrew Hohns (D) 2,987
Terry Gillen (D) 1,817
With 89 percent of precincts reporting
District 184
William Keller (D) 6,505
Mark Squilla (D) 4,346
With 99 percent of precincts reporting
