Students primarily vote for GOP's Katz

and Stephanie Oliva Penn students joined the ranks of Philadelphia voters yesterday to play their part in selecting the city's next mayor in the most highly contested city race in decades and one of the most watched campaigns in the nation this year. Neither the rain nor registration problems deterred students from voting for either Democrat John Street or GOP candidate Sam Katz at the four polling sites on and around campus. Students of all years added their votes in hopes of tipping the scales in an election decided in Street's favor by only about 7,000 votes. At Penn, Katz seemed to have the clear advantage over Street, both in numbers and organization. A Penn for Katz group started up early in the semester, seeking to register students and persuade them to vote for the GOP candidate. According to College senior Patrick Ruffini, who headed up the Penn for Katz group, about three-quarters of Penn voters chose Katz. "[Katz] seemed to be the most qualified and had the most realistic and obtainable plans for the city," said College senior Michele Sacks, a Democrat who voted for Katz yesterday. "I definitely agree with Katz in the sense that the wage tax needs to be lower," College junior Brett Taxin said. "You have to make an environment where business and families are going to stay here." Wharton sophomore Greg Berman said he also cast an anti-Street vote. "I don't want to elect a leader who's already been known to be corrupt in the past," Berman said, referring to Street's alleged past financial improprieties. Yet despite such comments by Katz supporters, Street had his own loyal followers here on campus. "Street focuses more on Philadelphia neighborhoods, while Katz is more [focused on] economic issues," Engineering junior Pablo Schklowsky said. "I agree with Street more." College freshman Francey Hart said she voted for Street because his "social platform was appealing to me." And though College freshman Sarah Feuer said part of her vote for Street was based on party lines, "I valued his experience in the city over Katz's business background." College freshman Tony Ong agreed. "I just don't like Katz's issues," he said. Many students said they chose to vote this year because of the razor-thin margin of victory predicted by most analysts. Wharton sophomore Ted Snyder said that, because the race was supposed to be so close, with each vote "we could sway [the election]." And third-year Veterinary School student Jon Castro said voting is a way to make your voice heard. "If you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain," Castro said.

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