Posted on Wed, Nov. 4, 2009
City Controller Alan Butkovitz will cruise into his second four-year term in January after dominating Republican Al Schmidt at the polls yesterday.
Butkovitz, a Democrat, won by a ratio of more than 2-1, according to unofficial returns with 95 percent of precincts reporting.
That is less than the 7-1 ratio of Democrats to Republicans in Philadelphia, but consistent with Democratic-Republican contests in recent years.
"It's an affirmation of the work we've been doing for the past four years, and an affirmation of the work of the professionals in the Controller's Office," said Butkovitz, 57, who first won in 2005 after 15 years in the state House.
Butkovitz campaigned on his willingness to go beyond his office's traditional auditing function. He said the office helped transform government with exposés on poor emergency response, crumbling city facilities, and a hidden school district deficit.
He promised more of the same for the next four years, with a focus on delivery of services, collection of money owed to the city, and making Philadelphia more attractive for growth.
Schmidt, 38, aggressively attacked Butkovitz over the last few months. Schmidt described Butkovitz, who is a ward leader, as a pillar of the city's political class who was not willing - or able - to reform it. He also chastised Butkovitz for failing to audit departments on a yearly basis, as required by the city's Home Rule Charter.
"We definitely knew what we were up against," Schmidt said of his first run for city office. "I'm very proud of the campaign we ran. I'm certainly proud that we helped Philadelphia, even if only a little bit."
Schmidt said last night that his campaign "got people interested in what's happening in Philadelphia at the moment" and demonstrated that the city is "flat-out devoid of oversight."
Butkovitz, a seasoned politician, had shown the strain of a rough campaign in recent weeks as Schmidt ratcheted up his offensive. Butkovitz said last night that Schmidt's criticisms had unfairly questioned the work of career auditors in his office.
For Butkovitz, the drama was more about his viability as a candidate for higher office than his ability to beat a Republican Party that has not bested a Democrat in a citywide election since District Attorney Ronald D. Castille won reelection in 1989.
"Given that this is not a glamorous race, I'm glad the people have paid close attention to this and given us a good grade," he added from his victory party at Don Giovanni Pizza Restaurant at 7001 Castor Ave. in Northeast Philadelphia.
Political observers had given Schmidt little chance of winning against a Democratic incumbent in a low-turnout election.
For Schmidt, the race was a test of his own party's appetite for a Republican critical of the city's GOP establishment. It also was a test for the Loyal Opposition, a group of conservatives hoping to create a viable alternative to the city's Democratic machine.
Schmidt noted that his 28 percent share far exceeded the party registration, showing he had support from Democrats and independents who could form the core of a movement. "It absolutely is the beginning of something," Schmidt said. "And I'm not going anywhere."
Contact staff writer Jeff Shields at 215-854-4565 or jshields@phillynews.com.
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