Milt eyes state House seat

WHAT, did you think you had heard the last of former federal prison inmate and state Sen. T. Milton Street Sr.?

No chance.

Street, 72, is circulating nominating petitions to run in the April 24 Democratic primary election for the state House's 195th District seat, now held by first-term state Rep. Michelle Brownlee, 55.

Street said that he hopes to build on the same platform he used last year to challenge Mayor Nutter in the Democratic primary - the need to deal with crime in the city and to help prison inmates re-enter society.

"I think we made a lot of progress," he said. "But I think we lose all that progress if I don't stay involved. I think I can do that better as an elected official than as a community activist."

Street was still on supervised release after serving 26 months in federal custody for three misdemeanor counts of not paying taxes when he took 24 percent of the vote last May. That was a healthy showing, considering Street's circumstances, and a good way to reintroduce himself to voters.

Street said that he did well in that election in the 195th District, which includes parts of North Philadelphia, Fairmount, Brewerytown and Mantua.

Street still owes about $1.1 million in taxes - $413,704 to the feds, $345,000 to New Jersey and $388,037 to Philadelphia.

Brownlee, who worked for 37 years for the last holder of the 195th District seat, former state Rep. Frank Oliver, sighed heavily and then laughed yesterday when asked about Street. She said that she has not spoken to him or anyone else about his campaign.

"Milton has the right to run, I guess," Brownlee said. "I'm almost sure it will be loads of fun."