Latrice for City Council?
Philadelphia City Hall and political coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer City Hall bureau.
Latrice for City Council?
Jeff Shields
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.
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whatjugot - This has nothing to do with what area of the city she represents or whether she would do a good job. This has to do with CHARACTER and anyone who would sign a timesheet that said they started work at 9 and really didn't start until 11 is FALSIFYING documents - in other words - STEALING from the city. And suburbanites have every right to comment because the City of Philadelphia is supported by STATE & FEDERAL subsidies. Putting people like Latrice in office just continues the attitude that the City is their personal piggybank! How about that million dollar block party aka Jazz Fest? That was funded by the STATE TAXPAYERS. Where did that money go?— gone with the wind
Comment removed.- Gotta love Philly politics!— PeteT
- Plenty of people who do not live in the 8th district are subject to Philadelphia City Wage Taxes and have a legitimate interest in the qualities and actions of candidates for Philadelphia City Council. The government of this city is talking about cutting back on Police and Fire Services in order to keep facilitating bald faced patronage. Anyone who is OK with that fact is definitely part of the problem.— flippertop
- You just can’t make this stuff up, you really can’t… I hope she wins, she is a pretty woman, and obviously any chance to escape from Wilson Goode has to be considered a good thing… Plus, it will free her up to deliver Mayor Nutter his 30 Pack, can’t have the Mayor wasting his time at the Happy Rooster.— CrashTestCorzine
- "Republicans elected Lynn Swann (a black man) to run against Rendell in the last governor's election. Next!....." LOL. Nice try, but they didn't have a choice. "Swann's opponents in the Republican primary scheduled for May 16, 2006 had initially included Jim Panyard, State Senator Jeff Piccola, and former Lieutenant Governor William Scranton, III. After Swann received the endorsement of the Republican state committee on February 11, 2006, all three opponents quit the race, leaving Swann as the only Republican to have filed by the deadline of March 7, 2006." Next!— RightWingHypocrite
- RightWingHyprocrite (aka, DNC low-level staffer): thanks for making my point for me. The "racist" PA GOP chose Lynn Swann over his three white opponents in the GOP primary. But I thought white conservatives only vote for white conservatives? Now back to your basement in the Capitol to get Pelosi's coffee. Corbett will win, guaranteed. Toomey will win, guaranteed. This is just a very bad year for Democrats. Voters have had enough. Next! (hahaha....)— chrissmith
- They didn't choose Swann, he was the only option. Are you dense? All others dropped out. What part of that don't you understand? The voters didn't have a choice. I think you need brain surgery, you're as dense as they come. Funny....you're just another brain dead sheep conjuring up your own version of history.— RightWingHypocrite
- Just in case you it didn't register in your tiny brain....the voters did NOT choose Swann, all of his GOP primary opponents withdrew from the race. There's a difference. Got it now?— RightWingHypocrite
- All the good she did will outweigh the negative? The only Goode she did was her boss. City people may be stupid, but they're not that stupid to consider electing her. Hopefully the indecisive Bryant will look at these comments and not put herself back in the spotlight with a public campaign. I'm sure anyone against her will hit the Fox archives for all of the misdeeds made public.— snjgwmc
- RightWingHypocrite: how's hopey changey working for you and the Dems?— chrissmith
- Stories like these warm my heart. I'm sure her election will help property values, in the suburbs anyway.
- Well, apparently you don't need to be literate to run for Philadelphia city council. I'm sure she will fit in just fine.— TGC
- Comment removed.
she has my vote...what's the difference between her and any other politician ? she got caught, others don't. a military coup is the only answer, throw em all out along with the 2 party system. then start over with more choices or just live under the Dictatorship for a bit. Can't be any worse.
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