Black Clergy endorse Duda for Commissioner, drop Schmidt
Al Schmidt won the Black Clergy's endorsement for City Commissioner in the May primay, but now they are backing Joseph Duda instead.
Black Clergy endorse Duda for Commissioner, drop Schmidt
Miriam Hill
The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity has endorsed Republican incumbent Joseph Duda in the hotly contested race for City Commissioner over Al Schmidt.
The endorsement is something of a surprise because:
1) The Black Clergy had endorsed Schmidt, also a Republican, in the May primary, though Duda had not asked for their approval at that point.
2) It's a little unusual to see the Black Clergy endorse a Republican.
Reverend Terrence Griffith, the 1st vice president and chair of the Black Clergy's Political Action Committee, said the panel was backing Duda because it was more satisfied with the way he answered one question. Griffith would not say what that question was.
"I’ll tell you personally I like Al Schmidt, but you have to go along with the committee," Griffith said.
Heard in the Hall was tempted to see the hand of Democratic U.S. Rep. Bob Brady in this decision, since he is friends with both Griffith and Bishop Audrey F. Bronson, president of the local Black Clergy. Griffith, however, assured Heard that Brady played no role.
Political observers see Schmidt as a reformer and Duda as part of a local Republican party that often works closely with Democrats.
The only other Republican that the local Black Clergy endorsed is at-large City Council candidate David Oh.
"We think he ought to be given an opportunity," Griffith said of Oh, who, if he wins, would be the first Asian-American to serve on Council. Griffith praised Oh for maintaining a home in Cobbs Creek, where many African-Americans also live.
"We want to spread the word that African Americans ought to go out and vote for David Oh because he lives among us," Griffith said.
There are four candidates for City Commissioner, Democrats Stephanie Singer and Anthony Clark and Republicans Duda and Schmidt. Three will win election, and voters can select two. Because Democrats have a large registration edge among city voters, Clark and Singer are widely expected to win. The Commissioners elect their own chair, so the outcome of the Schmidt/Duda race probably will determine who leads that office. Schmidt and Duda have not said who they will back for chair, but it is widely believed that Schmidt would back Singer and Duda would back Clark. Singer has pledged to reform the office, while Clark is an incumbent and has not granted interviews during this race.
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How is it that the black clergy can be politically active, endorse politicians, and still retain their tax-free status? No other churches can do the same.— Smokey- Churches, being tax-exempt, cannot endorse candidates. Pastors, like all other citizens, can endorse candidates, as long as they make no claim to be representing their church when doing so.
- Yeah, but they do it from the pulpit in their church. Politicians give speeches from the pulpit. This is not the church endorsing? C'mon, you're splitting hairs. — Smokey
- Splitting hairs? Absolutely. They walk a fine line in this area, and when they invite politicians (particularly ones currently running for election/re-election), they're very very arguably crossing that fine line.
Comment removed.- This goes on in all large cites. Denver just had a black man hired to be police commissioner. All the black clergy came out endorsing him. Denver is 10-15 % black. I guess it doesn't matter how all the other races feel about the man. Raise a question, and you be racist.— clobal
- After Brady retires as our African American Congressman who is chairman of the majority African American Democratic Party, maybe he will be an offical member of the Black Clergy. enough said. Of course this is Brady's work and he does not care if you know it.— Paul Deon
- Brady's quite content running his Philadelphia Plantation.— Smokey
- Missing from reporter Miriam Hill's story is a relevant fact that Inquirer readers should be aware of: Commission Anthony Clark is African-American. The one question that the Black Clergy would not reveal and does not want out is whether the Republican Commissioner candidate would support Anthony Clark as Chairman. It is racist and pathetic that that was a litmus test for endorsement.— RemcoRick
- Who did the white clergy endorse?— kelprod2
- Well I actually find myself agreeing with kelprod for once.— Brian E. Breslin
- The Black Clergy's Political Action Committee, said the panel was backing Duda because it was more satisfied with the way he answered one question and the one and only question asked. How much money are you going to give us for the endorsement?— nativeamericaneagle
- Another reason to vote the "Old Guard" out, and free the office of the influence of Brady, and his allied Republican Meehan!!!— Dadair1
- what a mistake DUDA is 80 years old it is time for him to permanently retire and besides if he was 40 years old he hasn't done a thing a total waste this was probably a meehan-brady deal what a terrible situation— nelson van alden
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