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Monday, July 19, 2010

Latrice for City Council?

Look out City Council contenders, here comes Latrice!

With talk beginning to simmer about who's in and who's out for City Council in 2011, City Council's most recognizable staff member, Latrice Bryant, is considering a run for Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller's 8th District seat in 2011.

Bryant comes from a political family with deep ties to the Democratic City Committee, and she challenged State Rep. Rosita Youngblood in the 198th House District in 2004. But it was in 2008 that Bryant gained local notoriety by virtue of an unflattering television news investigation into her work hours and an apparent romantic link with her boss, City Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr.

The Fox 29 News investigation in September of 2008 questioned whether Bryant worked a full schedule and falsified time sheets during Council's summer recess. Bryant escalated the situation by flashing hand-written signs in Council Chambers that labeled Fox 29 reporter Jeff Cole as a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Fox 29 happily responded to her allegations of racism by publishing photos of her and Goode on vacation together in Jamaica. Bryant later apologized for her actions but disputed the report's conclusions.

On Monday Bryant confirmed the rumors sailing around City Hall -- that she's definitely thinking about it.

"It's a possibility, said Bryant, 38, Goode's chief legislative aide, who has worked for him for 10 years. She was an inheritance tax clerk for Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci for five years before that.

Bryant, who was elected to the state Democratic Committee in May, is also a Democratic committeewoman in the 12th Ward in Germantown. Her mother, Patricia Bryant, is deputy chief of staff to Sheriff John Green and once worked for former state Rep. Bob O'Donnell when he was Speaker of the House in 1990-91. Her brother, Michael Bryant Jr., and sister, Patreya Bryant, are both Democratic City Committee members.

A big question for Bryant will be whether Miller, the sitting Councilwoman, runs again. Miller is enrolled in the controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) and can only return to Council in 2012 by retiring for a day after being reelected in 2011 and collecting a lump-sum retirement payout.

On Monday, Miller said she has not decided whether to run. "I haven't actually made a solid decision yet," Miller said. "Every day it changes."

Bryant said she will make a decision "Soon," and it will not necessarily depend on Miller's plans. "I'm just keeping my options open."

Is Bryant worried that her bad run with the media in 2008 will haunt her campaign?

"I think the positive work I've done in the community will outshine any negativity in the future," she said.

All 17 members of Council are up for reelection next year.

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.

Posted by Jeff Shields @ 10:25 PM Permalink | 76 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:45 PM, 07/19/2010

Oh boy, this is gonna get the suburban bigots and racists all worked up.

— EndCommenting

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:47 PM, 07/19/2010

please tell me this isn't happening. she is exactly what's wrong with philly. I am curious what her degree is in?

— rockthehouse

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:56 PM, 07/19/2010

there is no way in hell this person should even have a city job let alone a council position!! I will be looking for another job, since I have to live in this city since I work for it, if she gets in!!!!!!!!!!!!

— cynmoe

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:15 PM, 07/19/2010

Oh,please don't tell me we are going to have another crooked ROOSTER in philly goverment.

— Edu

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:15 PM, 07/19/2010

Latrice...interesting name. Is that Italian for 'the Trice'? I cannot believe that she's considering a run. If she does, she'll be one of many politicians who play identity politics and get elected even with shady or criminal backgrounds (think Marion Barry, etc.). It'll be a pity. There oughtta be a law...

— Tatts

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:17 PM, 07/19/2010

All I can say is that I hope there is someone in the over 1.5 million people who live in this city that can be better than her AND win the election over her.

— NickFromGermantown

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:30 PM, 07/19/2010

So glad I moved outside the city limits because electing corrupt candidates with no ethics is exactly what the people of Philly are good at...see John Street. With 1 out of 4 households living off taxpayer dollars Philly is quickly on the road to fiscal disaster. I just hope those NAACP racists like EndCommenting stay in the city where they belong and out of my township.

— ResponsibleAmerican

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:31 PM, 07/19/2010

As pointed out by EndCommenting, Latrice would be the quintessential candidate for Germantown... a proverbial stick in the eye of those who won't do anything for you anyway...she will be there for 30 years! Worked for Strom Thurmond and Marion Barry alike. Oh that's right, people live, work and go to school there...oh well...sorry, that's our democracy.

— bobcitydoc

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:36 PM, 07/19/2010

While I shudder at the thought of a Bryant candidacy, maybe an election win by her would get the community mad enough to make some changes. Under Youngblood/Miller and with bankrupt organizations like Germantown Settlement in leadership, we're asleep with the house on fire.

— Tedyuscung

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:45 PM, 07/19/2010

You must be joking.

— Raz

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:22 AM, 07/20/2010

end commenting... Clever, clever... Hit the negative commentary off at the pass...that is the anti-Tea Party strategy...call the Tea Party people racists...and then you don't get anyone criticizing the Dems... Latrice Bryant is a fine candidate...very clever...very bright...prompt... Someone asked what her qualifications are? Can someone tell me...?

— Rollie Kenmore

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:25 AM, 07/20/2010

The sad thing is she will win. How did she even keep her original job? Philadelphia city goverment is a joke. This is really making me consider moving out of this area. I have been thinking about it and this probably makes it happen. I'm really stuck, at a lose?!?! WOW!!

— juelz215