Seth Williams is endorsed by the Philadelphia Black Clergy today / Image credit: KYW

By Jason Kleinman

Seth Williams isn’t acting like a candidate who just got kicked off the ballot for the Democratic primary race for District Attorney. This morning, he joined the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity in a press conference, as they endorsed him as their pick for the city’s next DA.

The group was not deterred by the fact that Williams currently won’t get a spot on voting ballot on May 19.  Reverend Terrence Griffith, director of the Black Clergy’s Political Action Group, believes that Williams’ position will be restored.  Griffith called the court decision “a travesty of justice” and “nothing more than a cheap political trick.”

Last Friday, Judge Allan Tereshko, a Common Pleas Court judge, ruled that Williams didn’t properly report funds he got from his campaign committee as income. See ruling. Document posted by Young Philly Politics (Seth supporters).

Yesterday, Williams filed a notice of appeal with the Commonwealth Court and asked for an expedited hearing.

According to Zack Stalberg, President of the Committee of Seventy, since the primary election is less than two months away, it is likely that the appellate court will hear the case and make its decision by the end of next week.

To make things even more interesting, it is possible that this matter could make its way up to the state Supreme Court, where Seamus McCaffery is a sitting justice.  Seamus is of course the brother of Dan McCaffery, one of the five democratic D.A. candidates in Philadelphia. McCaffery is also the person who filed the challenge against Williams.  But we shouldn’t be too quick to make Williams the victim of this type of political kneecapping.  Williams tried to remove fellow candidate Michael Turner from the ballot, claiming that Turner did not submit enough valid signatures to earn a spot on the ballot.  Judge Tereshko also ruled on Friday that Turner did have enough qualified names. Turner is the only other African American candidate in the Democratic primary.

Dan Fee, Williams’ campaign manager, is confident that the decision against Williams will be overturned.  He told us, “What the judge ruled is simply not the law.”  The Williams campaign is remaining optimistic and even looking for the silver lining.  According to Fee, there has been an outpouring of support in recent days.  “Our number of volunteers has increased and voter support has been positive because they all recognize that this is a wrongly decided decision that took the voice out of the voters’ hands about who should be the next DA.”

But what does all of this really mean for the Williams campaign?  According to Stalberg, “It will cost him money, effort, and momentum.”  Stalberg explains that many people will probably hesitate to make donations if they think their candidate is out of the race.  Even if Williams’ position is restored, this will likely affect current or planned advertising campaigns.

It also changes the whole dynamic of the election.  Suddenly there is room for other candidates who may have been in Williams’ shadow, to emerge as the front runner.  Stalberg postulated that McCaffery, due to his family name and connections to the local Democratic Party, probably becomes the best known name left in the race.

In Saturday’s Philadelphia Daily News, Harry Cook, Turner’s campaign manager, said that the recent developments help his candidate. “Turner-now the only African American in the race, against three white candidates-may have gone from last to first as the result of Tereshko’s decisions.”

While many things remain up in the air for the Williams campaign, one thing is for sure - they’re not giving up.  As Fee stated in this weekend’s Inquirer, “Seth is going to be on the ballot.  The campaign continues.”

We want to know what you think about these recent developments.

Do you think Seth Williams will be restored to the ballot?

If the guy’s not on the ballot, are you less likely to donate money to his campaign?

Is all of this, McCaffery’s move to bump Williams off the ballot, and Williams’ unsuccessful attempt to remove Turner from the ballot, a sign that the city needs to change the way it runs elections?

The Democratic Candidates:

Brian Grady’s campaign website

Dan McCaffery’s campaign website

Dan McElhatton’s campaign website

Michael Turner’s campaign website

Seth Williams’s campaign website

The Republican Candidate:

Michael Untermeyer

Related link:

Philadelphia District Attorney’s website

Jason Kleinman is an intern for It’s Our City and a Master of Public Policy candidate at Rutgers University