Election 2010: Nutter Endorses Williams, Who Slams Hoeffel
Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel launched a preemptive political attack this morning on Mayor Nutter's endorsement of state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams for governor and then was subjected to an old-fashioned West Philly smack-down. Hoeffel's campaign issued a statement 24 minutes before Nutter was due to speak with Williams and state Rep. Dwight Evans, saying the endorsement was ironic because the mayor wants to improve public schools and Williams supports using tax money for school "vouchers" to pay for private tuition.
Election 2010: Nutter Endorses Williams, Who Slams Hoeffel
Chris Brennan
Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel launched a preemptive political attack this morning on Mayor Nutter's endorsement of state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams for governor and then was subjected to an old-fashioned West Philly smack-down. Hoeffel's campaign issued a statement 24 minutes before Nutter was due to speak with Williams and state Rep. Dwight Evans, saying the endorsement was ironic because the mayor wants to improve public schools and Williams supports using tax money for school "vouchers" to pay for private tuition.
Williams, who likes to talk about "thinking outside the box," is a Southeastern Pennsylvania threat to Hoeffel since the other two Democrats in the race, Dan Onorato and Jack Wagner, are from Allegheny County. "Here we go with the box," Williams sighed when asked about Hoeffel's claim. "I guess Mr. Hoeffel and others will make their attempts to box me in on where I stand." Williams added that Hoeffel's "scare tactics" were motivated by concerns that kids from one school district might migrate to different districts if given the option.
Nutter, who does not support vouchers, said he could disagree with Williams on one issue and still support him. "That has nothing to do with my support for Sen. Williams and his strong support, which is documented, about the issue of education," Nutter said. "I'm not going to allow that to be some sort of wedge between us."
Evans also praised Williams for his work on education issues and scolded Hoeffel for his statement, which arrived by an e-mailed news release. "It's kind of a preemptive attack to try to create some sort of controversy," Evans said. "To me, that kind of release is not what we need."
Tom5576 -- wow. so everybody in charge should be white? wow. while i have no problem with anybody of any race being my "leaders" if they know what they are doing. but its trash like you that actually makes living in a city with mostly black leadership happy. if you dont like black leadership, MOVE!!- and while i dont like mayor nutter for several reasons, i do know that he was an improvement over john street. street ran our city into the ground!!
Hoeffel is an atrocious candidate for PA. The last thing we need is an elitist ultra-liberal guy from the main line area dictating what we "need" in PA and raising taxes beyond possibilities to keep up with his spending frenzy on what we need!— Grill
Comment removed.- I don't blame Nutter for endorsing Hardy Williams. It's natural for people to go with their own. I do wish though that Mr. Nutter had supported Lynn Swann for Governor, but I guess politics is thicker than blood sometimes. Rendell has been a disaster. But I have to see who runs for both sides.— The Monk of Magdalena
- Comment removed.
- Williams must be upset. I will vote for whom ever Nutter doesn't endorse. I can't be the only one.— 420-24-7
- Rendell can't run. Let us pause and give thanks.— Ken K
- Why would he want the endorsement of Mayor Nut-Less?— ALJ
- Nutter endorsed Hillary - nuff said— sbdons1982
- Williams is not bad, but Hoeffel is a train wreck. Corbett will dispatch either of them though.— rcthompson
- The Dems are toast in the gubernatorial election-what does it matter, who endorses who.— camtheman
Joe Biden and Mighty Mouse Mayor Nutter are peas in a pod...they misspeak.- Who cares, Onorato is going to win anyway— Tartan69
- Hoeffel has turned Montgomery County into a laughing stock getting into bed with a crook like Jim Matthews. I wouldn't elect him dog catcher.— RBA
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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