Nutter calls Sen. Williams ‘great public servant’

Mayor Nutter, as expected, endorsed state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams for governor today.

Calling Williams a "unique individual" and "a great public servant," Nutter said he would back Williams over three other Democrats in the May 18 party primary.

Nutter made the endorsement in a news conference at the Science Center in West Philadelphia, where he was joined by Williams and state Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.).

Evans also endorsed Williams, saying that he promised "real change, real leadership."

Williams, 53, got a big lift from the endorsements. It helped to establish his legitimacy as a candidate even though he entered the race only last month.

An early proponent of charter schools and tax write-offs for companies that donate to private schools - both of which have become law in Pennsylvania - Williams also advocates government-paid vouchers for private education.

His support for vouchers prompted another Democratic candidate for governor, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, to issue a statement that said it was an "irony" for Nutter to back Williams. Nutter does not support vouchers.

Evans called that "an attack" on the mayor, but Nutter was more circumspect.

"On a personal level, the senator and I have differences on that particular issue," he said. " ... I am not going to allow that to become some kind of wedge between us. That is one of a million issues."

Nutter said that Williams has long been a champion of providing greater funding for public education.

The two other Democratic candidates are Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato and state Auditor General Jack Wagner.