Ballot Positions Chosen For May 17 Primary Election

In crowded elections, ballot position can be a critical factor in a candidate's success or failure. Politicians and their friends and staffs gathered in a sixth-floor City Hall courtroom this morning to determine the order in which their names will appear on the May 17 primary election ballot. They chose by reaching into an old Horn & Hardart's coffee can and selecting numbered bingo balls.

The stiffest competition is in the race for Traffic Court judge, where 15 Democrats and one Republican are seeking just one open seat. Democrat Christine Solomon, who didn't show up for the drawing, drew the first ballot position for her party. Lewis Harris Jr. took the first GOP spot by default.

Position is also key for City Council at-large, where 10 candidates are seeking office as Democrats and 10 are running as Republicans. Candidates need to be in the top five voter getters in the primary election to advance to the November general election.

On the Democratic side, incumbents Bill Greenlee and Blondell Reynolds Brown drew the the first and fifth positions while their colleagues did not do as well: Bill Green drew 11, Jim Kenny drew 14 and W. Wilson Goode Jr. drew 20. On the Republican side, incumbent Frank Rizzo drew seventh place.

The drawing had the feel of a circus joined to a lottery, despite the pleas from Common Pleas Court President Judge Pam Dembe for the crowd to remain quiet. Warren Bloom drew first position for the Democratic primary for City Commissioner and literally danced out of the courtroom, saying in a sing-song voice: "Hallelujah, thank you Jesus. Do the right thing and vote for Bloom in the spring."

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Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

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