Inquirer Editorial: One-man race?

In a stem-winder of an announcement that he wouldn't challenge Mayor Nutter in the May primary, State Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D., Phila.) still sounded very much like a candidate announcing a mayoral run.

Just not this year.

Williams, who hit the hustings last year in his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said Monday he had heard from people all over the city who are "deeply concerned about our city's future."

"They are concerned that too many of our schools are failing our children. They are concerned about public safety. And they are also concerned about the economic vitality of the city," he added.

Sounds like a platform. So why not run and assure these city residents that there will be a healthy debate of these issues with the incumbent?

Williams indicated that it came down to two factors: He'd already pledged at the end of last year not to run for mayor, and he believes that residents' concerns about the city are "themes [that] are the cornerstone of my legislative agenda in the State Senate."

Left unsaid: Keeping his day job is a sure thing, whereas trying to reach City Hall to pursue his agenda is anything but.

That leaves Nutter with no announced Democratic opponent so far. Oh, wait. Former street vendor, state lawmaker, and ex-federal prison inmate T. Milton Street says he is gathering signatures for a mayoral run.