Gary Williams ‘surprised’ by resounding special-election victory over Milton Street

Gary Williams has a sizable lead on Milton Street in the 197th special election. 

With more than 96 percent of the precincts reporting in the 197th District state-representative election counted, Gary Williams has culled 76 percent of the vote against T. Milton Street Sr. The vote count: 3,248 to 887.

Williams, a ward leader who lives near Temple University and used to work with Street’s brother John, was flabbergasted when told of the results around 9:30 p.m. 

 

“Wow. This is unbelievable. I didn’t expect this at all,” he said in a phone interview with NewsWorks. “I’m surprised because he was out there hustling. But it was a clean campaign. We talked about the issues, our vision and message of what we’d do if elected. I’ve been waiting for someone to call with the results!”

Meanwhile, at Faith and Deliverance Outreach Ministries at 15th and Stiles streets in North Philadelphia, four supporters were still waiting for Street to arrive until 10 p.m., when they left for the night.

Calls to his cell phone have gone directly to voicemail.