Claims, counterclaims muddy 7th District race

With the Pennsylvania primary just two weeks away, the fight is getting nasty in one Philadelphia City Council race.

Seventh District candidate Danny Savage is leveling allegations against Carlos Matos, who has supported incumbent Maria Quinones-Sanchez. Matos was a ward leader until he recently stepped down following a judge’s order.

“Maria Sanchez is supported by Carlos Matos and I can tell you this much, that Carlos Matos asked me for $35,000 and two jobs and now Maria’s being supported by Matos,” Savage said.

Savage said Matos asked for the money and the jobs in return for an endorsement a few weeks ago.

“In person at his health clinic that he owns, Juniata Community Health Clinic. I went to visit him to ask him for his support and that was the conversation that was had,” Savage said.

Savage says he said no and walked away.

Matos laughed when asked about the accusation,

“I did not ask him for $35,000. I never asked him for money. I never ever, in the 15, 20 years that I’ve been acting as a ward leader, I have never ever asked anybody to pay me for an endorsement! Never ever ever!”

Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who said she would not give anyone money in exchange for an endorsement, said she is standing by her record in her bid for re-election.

Starting in 2007, Matos served three years for bribing Atlantic City Council members. A judge recently ordered Matos to give up his position as ward leader, saying he needed time away from “a position of frequent criminal temptation.”