Home Delivery

May 28, 4:47 PM | Traffic

Search for :

South Jersey news - Mob Scene - Jobs

options

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Kenyatta Johnson Says Damon Roberts Dropping Out

State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson just confirmed that Damon Roberts, one of his Democratic competitors for the 2nd District City Council seat, will be dropping out of the race. An announcement from Roberts may come as early as tomorrow morning.

"We did talk briefly," Johnson said. "He did say he would be stepping out. He will be supporting me. He thought him getting behind me would give me a better chance."

Roberts has not responded to calls or emails, seeking comment.

The deadline for a candidate to withdraw from the May 17 primary election was March 23 so Roberts will have to seek an order from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to have his name removed from the ballot. Johnson said he didn't have detailed discussions with Roberts about that. "I'm quite sure he's going to do the proper thing and make it official." Johnson said.

The race still includes real estate broker Barbara Capozzi and Southwest Philadelphia community activist Tracey Gordon.

Gordon said Roberts told her this morning that he was dropping out of the race because he lacked the resources to win the election.

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 2:12 PM Permalink | 8 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:40 PM, 05/04/2011

Good for Damon Roberts for recognizing his continued candidacy would not be successful. Kenyatta Johnson is clearly the strongest candidate in the field and will make an excellent Councilperson for the district.

— PhillyMustGetBetter

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:42 PM, 05/04/2011

I really liked Damon, but I definitely hoped for "one or the other" of those two. It's better that there is only to be one of them. I hope Roberts did it in time to get his name off the ballot.

— BradyDale

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:49 PM, 05/04/2011

Kenyatta Johnson has one constituency and one constituency only, and he makes that clear. He doesn't represent that taxpayer who is expected to foot the bills. Johnson winning would be a disaster for SWCC.

— CleanupPhilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:51 PM, 05/04/2011

Johnson going from state rep to city council is a step backwards. If he was as good a state rep as he claims, why would he leave that role?

— CleanupPhilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:12 PM, 05/04/2011

I would disagree that going from State Rep. to City Councilman is a step backwards. It's a very smart move for Rep. Johnson especially at a time when it will be extremely difficult for him and his Democratic colleagues to pass legislation in the Republican-run legislature.

— Tasha

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:29 PM, 05/04/2011

Cleanup: More money and power as a District Council member. Plus they only work part-time and don't work in the summmer.

— Serpico

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:42 PM, 05/04/2011

Kenyatta Johnson is just an opportunist, so he forces another African American Harvard educated attorney out of the race with this ethic identity politics thing. Johnson is just another political hack. He spouted all that B.S. as to what he was going to do in the House of Representative. Question if Roberts didn't get out the race what would Johnson have the Black community do to Roberts political career? This is how democrats operate.

— Speak-truth-2-power

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:54 PM, 05/04/2011

Capozzi means business and not business as usual. Politics stink and the inky is backing it for Diversity over Uni-versty. Kenyatta Johnson is just positioning himself for Mayor and you got sucked in. He will prove to be the worst council choice. Stop by his offfice in the summer and find out where he will be!?!?

— Clark_Kent_SuperHero

8 comments

About The Philly Clout Team

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.

Follow Chris on Twitter

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

Follow Dave on Twitter.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.

Follow Catherine on Twitter

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.

Follow Jan on Twitter