Sánchez, obviously

Many political contests come down to highly subjective preferences for this philosophy or that personality, presenting voters - and, for that matter, editorial boards - with difficult decisions.

This is not one of them.

The Democratic primary to represent North Philadelphia's Seventh District pits an exceptional City Council member against an exceptionally regrettable candidacy. Councilwoman MARÍA QUIÑONES SÁNCHEZ, who has matched popular support with policy achievement, is being challenged by Manny Morales, who is so unequal to the task that Philadelphia's Democratic machine, normally unburdened by standards of any kind, was compelled to rescind its endorsement of him.

Despite this short-lived bout of shame, the party has not become so enlightened as to endorse the incumbent. Running for her third term without Democratic support - and deserving to prevail more than ever - Sánchez is best known for championing such difficult and important causes as business-tax reform and rational redevelopment.

Morales, a party apparatchik and former state employee, owes his infamy chiefly to a prolific output of bigoted, vulgar, and downright silly online commentary, much of which conveys strangely hard-right sentiments for a professed Democrat. When these collected works, up to and including his speculation on the sexual habits of flatworms, surfaced on the heels of the party's blessing, Morales had nothing to offer but an impossibly thin claim of a frame-up.

Sánchez's independent electoral success would not be possible if she had neglected so-called constituent services. But in contrast to district Council members who attempt no other service, she has also shown admirable idealism in her efforts to improve government citywide, along with the pragmatism to accept imperfect progress, ranging from small-business tax deductions to a compromise land bank designed to streamline reuse of vacant and blighted properties.

And yet, in a testament to city Democrats' insistence on nothing but obedience, Sánchez is the only Democratic Council member running without party support and, indeed, against the determined efforts of neighborhood party loyalists. It's more proof that the enmity of the Democratic machine is still the highest honor in Philadelphia politics.