DN Editorial: Our endorsements for Dems seeking Council at-large seats

THE RACE for five at-large Democratic City Council seats is this season's primary election writ small: 10 challengers are taking on five incumbents in a season that could bring big changes to the city's elected posts, especially if anti-incumbent sentiments win out. Much of those sentiments are sharpened by - though not limited to - DROP.

This board has not climbed on the anti- incumbency platform, but has reviewed the new challengers with the hope that we'd find enough to bring solid experience and a voice to the mix. We found two: Andy Toy and Edward Nesmith.

ANDY TOY is an economic-development specialist who has helped create small businesses for the Commerce Department and the Enterprise Center. He's smart, with an informed grasp of the more complicated issues facing the city, including the underfunded pension and the tax structure. He'd be a strong - and long overdue - voice for the Asian community, as well as the city as a whole.

EDWARD NESMITH, a construction-company owner, is a savvy ward leader in South Philadelphia who seems able to navigate the inner workings of the machine without getting his hands oily. A former committeeman, he's dedicated to community issues, but his experience navigating the city's planning and development labyrinths make him uniquely equipped to help reform them.

We endorse three incumbents:

After five terms on Council, JIM KENNEY finds ways to renew his passion for the right causes - among them immigration, gay rights and elimination of the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (which, oddly, cost him the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police). He recently fought to bring order to the chaos that is the city's towing operators. He remains a smart and reasonable voice on Council.

BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN is an advocate for children and was instrumental in the long push for the merger of the parks and recreation departments. Her menu-labeling bill had the potential to fall into the "foie gras ban" category, but it has had surprisingly positive impact.

We think of BILL GREEN the way an oyster must think of a grain of sand: part irritant, part pearl. (The irritant part especially dogs the Nutter administration.) As one of three freshmen elected in 2008, he's been vocal and consistent in his push for a new business-tax structure and brings a fresh outlook and good ideas.

Wilson Goode Jr. has done admirable work in finance, employment and banking. But his handling of questions around aide Latrice Bryant's work record-keeping was hardly transparent, and a better definition of his relationship with Bryant was never forthcoming. Bill Greenlee has been a slow and steady perfomer but hasn't distinguished himself on the big issues facing the city.