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Candidates Clash Again at Debate

Monday, May 07, 2007

Dann Cuellar
More: Bio, 6abc.com News Team

INDEPENDENCE MALL - May 7, 2007 (WPVI) -- The five Democratic candidates for mayor met again to tackle the issues and verbally at least, each other.

The debate got really ugly at times at the Constitution Center on Monday night.

The political fireworks began early on. First on former Councilman Michael Nutter's controversial plan that would allow police to stop and frisk citizens suspected of carrying illegal weapons

"What I'm concerned about is making this city safe for everyone in Philadelphia and that there are no illegal weapons in this city," said Nutter.

"Yes, we have difficult times out there, but African-Americans deserve to be treated like citizens," said State Rep. Dwight Evans.

"As being black for 49 years, I think I know a little bit of something about having a concern about racial profiling," said Nutter.

"I'm sorry that the councilman has to remind himself that he's an African-American," responded Rep. Chaka Fattah.

Bob Brady and Tom Knox took swipes at each other over what role Knox did or did not play in the Rendell administration.

"I was his deputy mayor. I called him up anytime of the day," said Knox.

"You were his deputy making a dollar a year and you were grossly overpaid," Brady fired back.

"Rendell said today that if it wasn't for me, he might not have balanced the budget and he said I can kick butt, and I can kick butt and yours will probably be the first one," replied Knox.

Evans took Fattah to task on his controversial plan to lease the airport to finance his anti-poverty program

"The reason I call it fuzzy math from the beginning is he hasn't reconciled the numbers," said Evans.

"This is a doable transaction. It's been done in 50 of the leading 700 airports in the world," argued Fattah.

The evening took a disturbing twist when Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross and other law enforcement personnel arrived at the Constitution Center after someone called and threatened Brady.

"I don't know who it is. It's a coward is who it is. A coward who calls on a pay phone and threatened somebody. Cowards don't bother me," said Brady.

Brady said the threat was made before the debate started and did not deter him during the debate. Police believe the call was placed from a Center City pay phone based on the number that came up on the caller id.

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