Rendell, Nutter endorse ... an independent

Two of the biggest names in Philadelphia Democratic politics took an unusual step Tuesday: endorsing an independent.

Mayor Nutter and Gov. Ed Rendell both threw their support behind Andrew Stober, a former member of the Nutter administration vying in the Nov. 3 election for one of the two at-large City Council seats reserved by law for members of minority parties. Traditionally that has meant Republicans.

Nutter and Rendell both said it was the first time they had endorsed an independent candidate.

"This is one of these situations where a person's track record is clearly much more important than what their voter registration card says," Nutter said at a news conference held outside his office in City Hall. "Andrew Stober represents all of the best in Democratic principles."

The endorsements are a major pickup for Stober, a lifelong Democrat who changed his registration and resigned his post as chief of staff in Nutter's transportation office to run.

Nine people are vying for the two seats. The Republican candidates are incumbents David Oh and Dennis O'Brien and challengers Terry Tracy, Daniel Tinney, and Al Taubenberger. The third-party candidates are Stober; Kristin Combs, a member of the Green Party; Sheila Armstrong, an independent; and John Staggs, a member of the Socialist Workers Party.

While Stober's campaign has drawn attention, he still has relatively low name recognition and is running in what will undoubtedly be a weak-turnout race. Stober said his campaign has also waged an uphill battle educating Democrats who are unaware that they can vote for an independent.

"Having the endorsement of two of the most respected Democrats in the city, Mayor Nutter and Governor Rendell, there's probably nothing better to explain to Democrats why they should be supporting me than those two endorsements," he said.

Rendell said he thinks Stober would bring a "fresh perspective" to Council.

"He's young and he's energetic and he's not tied to the politics of the past," Rendell said. "So I really would like to see him win."

Nutter on Tuesday also endorsed incumbent Council members Blondell Reynolds Brown and William Greenlee as well as Derek Green, who won a spot on the general election ballot in the Democratic primary. All three are likely to be elected, due to the overwhelming voter registration advantage held by the Democratic Party in Philadelphia.

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.