Low Buzz Election? Lunch Goes On

The election Tuesday didn't have much buzz with the District Attorney and City Controller – both safe Democratic incumbents – carrying a ticket weighed down with judicial retentions and a bond question.

At the Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, the traditional election day lunch spot for the Philadelphia's candidates, office holders and political insiders, the predictions on turnout ranged from a low of 7 percent to a high of 12 percent, with state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams simply shaking his head and uttering, "Not good."

District Attorney Seth Williams and Controller Alan Butkovitz both appeared at lunch to be fairly relaxed for candidates putting their jobs on the line. (Williams pegged the turnout at 12 percent; Butkovitz at 9 percent).

Williams lamented that the low wattage election and the decision by our friends at the Daily News not to endorse candidates in his race had robbed him of the opportunity to talk about his record after four years in office.

"All the things I talked about when I ran … I accomplished," he said.

Butkovitz, sporting a lapel pin that read "Butko," said little would be learned about the electorate Tuesday. He said the primary was a better barometer – of course, in the primary, Butkovitz crushed his nearest competition by a 2-to-1 margin.

"It showed we had our ear pretty close to the ground as far as Democrats in the city," he said.

Butkovitz and Williams have been whispered as potential mayoral candidates in 2015.

There was plenty of chatter Tuesday about that coming race – especially with Williams, a likely mayoral candidate, making his appearance at Famous.

But other races come first – one political aide noted that the Pennsylvania governor's race would unofficially begin Wednesday. Marjorie Margolies, the former Congresswoman, NBC reporter and now, mother-in-law to Chelsea Clinton, also dined at Famous Tuesday. She's seeking to return to Congress next year.

Councilman James F. Kenney, another potential mayoral candidate at Famous, had his political radar aimed east.

Asked what could be learned from Tuesday election, he scoffed, "Not much."

Then, he laughed, and added, "It depends how much Christie wins by."

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