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I admit it up front, I like Jim Kenney. I like that he’s one of us. I liked when he first entered City Council, and a former editor of this newspaper alerted me that after she interviewed him, she thought Kenney was one of the best things that had happened to South Philly politics. I liked when he took an interest in the quality of life in our neighborhoods when no one else seemed to care.
I’ve watched him over the years develop into a politician who not only looked out for our interests, but refused to cater to our own biases. As his vision broadened over the years, I watched him show the same interest and compassion for other areas of the city the same way he’s shown for our own. He took stands on issues that were anything but easy — protecting the rights of the gay, lesbian and transgender community, decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana and fighting to end the stop and frisk procedures that cause the minority community and police to come into needless conflict. While doing so, he’s never forgotten the needs of the working folks in this city and the necessity of labor unions at a time when our middle class is fast disappearing.
I liked seeing him in the lounge at Palm where my wife and I and other just plain folks could walk up to him and easily talk about the things that affect this city. Philadelphia is what Kenney cares most about. It’s where he’s lived all his life, where rubbing elbows with the people around here is what keeps his inner flame going.
I’ve read the criticisms and I’m sure Jim has, too, when he made the announcement that he was resigning his council seat to run for mayor. He’s too angry, implied Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky, and a loner. Nobody’s got his back in Council, wrote Bykofsky. Ironically, in the same edition of that newspaper, it was reported that one Republican councilman, Dennis O’Brien, crossed party lines to all but support Kenney’s candidacy, as did Democratic 1st District Councilman Mark Squilla. As for the anger issue, sometimes one man’s anger is another man’s passion. Some people just have a lower tolerance for fools. I often disagreed with Frank Rizzo, but I never heard anyone confuse his passion for anger. During the much-praised (and deservedly so) two terms that Ed Rendell served as mayor, he could read the riot act to you with the best of them, but I didn’t hear anger being a disqualifying issue. But hey, if you see it as anger, maybe a little “anger” is needed in City Hall — anger at the intractable problems we face while too often it’s politics as usual.
I’m not dismissing Bykofsky’s concerns. One of the problems that has dogged Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration is a lack of a good working relationship with City Council. The same problem hurt Mayor John Street, ironically someone who as president of City Council had been an important factor in helping Rendell succeed. Even further back, the battles between then-Mayor Bill Green and Council practically destroyed his administration. One can’t overestimate the need for the mayor and City Council to work in harmony to get things done. Kenney has the experience. He knows how council works. He above all, should know he needs Council to be a cooperative partner for a successful administration. Kenney will not be able to afford to be intractable if he wants his agenda passed. His challenge will be to make sure his passion is contagious and not destructive.
I once wrote that what this city needs to energize its politics is a viable two-party system. I worked for Sam Katz when he ran as a Republican for mayor and lost twice mainly because he couldn’t overcome the 8-1 registration edge of the Democrats. I voted for Republican Arlen Specter when he came close to winning against the mediocre James H. J. Tate and ending the Democrats’ stranglehold on this city. But if the last time around is any indication, the Republican Party in this town is not ready to run anyone who can win or maybe even deserves to win. Even if Katz decides to run this time, word has it that it will be as a Democrat. So, yes, I’ve given up on the Republicans in Philadelphia because in large part they have given up on themselves.
Another account by Chris Hepp in Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer lamented that we have too many old folks in the race. Maybe Hepp has a point, but he larded the argument. I’m not against young blood entering our city politics, but Joe Clark, whose tenure began the reform movement that took this city out of the political dark ages, was 51. Dick Dilworth, as the writer admitted in his article, was just a month younger than Jim Kenney when he took office. Kenney is 56. Rizzo was 52 when left the police commissioner’s job to become mayor.
Those of us who admire Kenney have watched and waited for him to take his shot. And he has taken the risk, resigning a safe council seat to do so. Kenney has often appealed to our better angels around here. In doing so, he has rattled some chains.
Kenney’s passion is just what this mayor’s race needed right about now.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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