You don't need to tell Sam Katz to cheer up -- he's already got Happy. Onetime Democratic mayoral candidate Happy Fernandez decided to cross over party lines and endorse Republican candidate Katz for this November's mayoral election. "I am convinced Sam Katz is our best choice for positive, forward-looking and inclusive leadership," Fernandez wrote in a letter sent out on Wednesday to about 1,500 supporters. In the spring primary won by former City Council President John Street, Fernandez -- who resigned her Council seat to run for mayor -- received only 6 percent of the vote. Katz's campaign committee paid for the mailing. Just two weeks ago Katz received an endorsement from another Democratic primary contender, John White. His endorsement is considered more important because of White's longstanding friendship with Street and his standing as a prominent African-American Democrat. Like White, Fernandez draws on a base of middle class Democratic voters -- a group Katz is trying to lure with his moderate campaign targeting Democrats who disapprove of the party candidate. And as the race charges into the final month, Katz is now widely perceived as an actual contender in a city that has not elected a Republican since 1947. Fernandez, who left politics to become the president of the Moore College of Art and Design, said she will not actively campaign for Katz. While Fernandez's support may not be as important as White's endorsement of Katz or Marty Weinberg's of Street, the Katz campaign is pleased to have her backing. "I think [the endorsement] demonstrates the bipartisan support the campaign has," Katz spokesperson Bob Barnett said. And the decision surprised many insiders -- Fernandez worked with Street on City Council for seven years and they share similar views on issues such as education and tax reform. Like Street, Fernandez favors education reform and opposes school vouchers, which Katz supports. "This had nothing to do with the issues," said Street spokesperson Ken Snyder, who noted that the endorsement was "puzzling." Snyder added that Street had spoken with Fernandez on several occasions but "[he] is not going to say and do anything to get someone's support." According to Fernandez, choosing Katz "was a very difficult decision to make," but ultimately she decided that Katz's leadership style would more effectively govern the city. In her letter, Fernandez outlined the reasons behind her choice of Katz, including his goals for education reform in the Philadelphia public schools. "While we do not agree on vouchers, Sam Katz shares my dedication to securing fair funding to improve the quality of education for each of the 215,000 students in the Philadelphia public schools," she wrote. She also stressed Katz's leadership and management skills. "Sam Katz has taken initiatives to build coalitions across party, racial and neighborhood lines, and he has welcomed opportunities to talk with citizens in all types of forums," the letter continued.
Comments