Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller endorses Verna Tyner

Philadelphia City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller this week endorsed Verna Tyner in the Eighth District.

Miller currently holds this District seat but is not seeking re-election.

Citing Tyner’s 15 years as a Council staffer, Miller said, “Verna knows what it takes to make things happen in city government. Furthermore, she has the requisite relationships to effectively serve the constituents of the Eighth Council District.”

Tyner has served as Chief of Staff for the late Councilman At-Large David Cohen and most recently for Councilman At-Large Bill Greenlee.

Miller added that many of Tyner’s opponents “are bogged down in idealism” and “offer no real solutions”.

Tyner said she was surprised by Miller’s decision, but welcomes it nonetheless.

“I am a person who believes in inclusiveness and so Councilwoman Miller’s endorsement to me means that she understands what my goal is for the Eighth District,” she said in a phone interview Wednesday.

“She believes that I will be fair to the entire district and be able to represent the entire district,” said Tyner.

Tyner said she did not outright ask for the endorsement.

Whether Miller’s endorsement of Tyner will be a boon or bust for her campaign is unclear. Most of the Eighth District candidates, including Tyner, have expressed their interest in making a break from past leadership.

Asked whether she sees Miller’s support as a negative, Tyner said she didn’t. She said it’d be hypocritical to reject the endorsement.

“If we try to exclude them out, isn’t that the same thing they we’re complaining about? Why would I or anyone else that are asking to be included, exclude anybody that lives in the Eighth Council District?” she said.

Tyner has also been endorsed by Pennsylvania State Senator Shirley Kitchen and four of the seven ward leaders in the Eighth District. Donna Reed Miller is the Democratic leader of the 59th Ward.

Former Mayor John Street also reportedly plans to publicly pledge his support.

The six other Eighth District candidates are: Cindy Bass, William Durham, Andrew Lofton, Greg Paulmier, Robin Tasco and Howard Treatman.

There are no Republicans seeking the seat. The Democratic Primary is May 17.