Democrat Turned Republican Enters Mayoral Race

By JAMES FOSTER

Publisher 

 

Many thought that the run up to the mayor’s race this year would be a ho-hum experience.  Unlike four years ago, no serious challenges came forth in the Democratic primary, and then there was Milton Street, the always-controversial brother of former Mayor John Street, and now the one with the first ballot position.

Odd as that late entry was, it may be topped by an unexpected turn of events after a long term Democratic activist and city staffer with strong ties to key officials and unions walked out of a City Council race at the 11th hour. It’s where she walked to that no one saw coming.

Karen Brown, previously announced candidate for the seat being vacated by Frank DiCiccio in the 1st District, and simultaneously an at-large seat, stated she  became outraged at the lack of support from Democratic officials who she believed would support her reform approach to city government, and bolted the party.  Immediately welcomed by Michael Meehan and Vito Canuso, power brokers of the minority Republicans, she is now the endorsed candidate of that party, and the first woman in Philadelphia to run for this office from a major political organization.

In an interview at Ms. Brown’s favorite South Philadelphia diner last week, she presented an aggressive agenda designed, she said, to bring transparency and competence to Philadelphia government.  She wants to throw open the doors to investigative tools and order a full 12-year audit of all city departments as soon as she is elected. 

Candidate Brown, a South Philadelphia Democratic committee person, was born in that community and has lived and worked in this city all her life.  

Her career includes education at local schools and universities.  She is a graduate of Gwynedd-Mercy College, and attended Pierce Junior College, Community College, St. Charles Seminary, and has a degree in Business Education. Her work experience revolved around a 20-year teaching career in both the Catholic and charter school systems teaching math and science. In addition she has work experience with two insurance brokers, Aetna Insurance and Johnson & Higgins.  More recently she has worked in the Philadelphia Court System and the City Commissioner’s Office.

She has been providing constituent services through a number of groups, many serving our continually-increasing senior citizen population, and particularly as founder of the Southwark Civic Association. She has had membership and board participation in Epic Stakeholders, South Philadelphia Business Association, Penn Civic Engagement, Union Laborers District 33, America Speaks Out, Coalition for Citizen Alliance, Rage, and Youth Senior Outreach, among others.

When asked how she has been received by those who only knew her as an activist Democrat, she claimed that those who know her will support her work and perspective on reform first, and she saw no reason why many in this city who are disappointed with the status quo won’t crossover to elect the first woman mayor with some of the freshest ideas in generations.

She is particularly critical of City Council, both those serving and how it functions. She described it as a “dysfunctional social club” and far from the body it should be in doing the people’s business.

She was asked to be specific about how frank she might be in challenging those in government during her campaign.  Her response was: “Elected official today, indicted co-conspirator tomorrow is how I see it; let the chips fall where they may.”

Brown believes that her long-established relationships with those truly committed to good governance and constituent services don’t end with party affiliation, and says that the city is longing for open, transparent government where people are held accountable, She pointed to recent scandals and problems in the public school system as one of her first priorities. 

Opposed to new taxes, she sees audits, practical spending cuts, and serious job creation as a path to a balanced budget.

She has her work cut out for her, with Republicans only 14 percent of registered voters in the city.  She said she is counting on that growing group of voters who are actually more independent in their overview, and what she claims is a major dissatisfaction with the present mayor, his administration, and City Council that crosses ethnic and racial lines.