Councilman pays tribute to late father at white linen bash

Fourth District Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. held his annual White Linen Party this Friday night at The Centennial Cafe at The Ohio House in Fairmount Park.

The event doubled as a campaign fundraiser and a chance to celebrate the birthdays of Jones, his chief of staff, Al Spivey Jr. and fellow Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell.

Others in attendance included Councilmen Jim Kenney and Bill Green along with State Senator Vincent Hughes. The event was a who’s who of political leaders and other influential Philadelphians, all friends of Jones.

The mild summer evening gave the event an old time feel to the occasion. Like a bandleader from the Jazz era, Jones was clad in a straw boater hat and pinstripe suit with a bittersweet story.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

“This suit belonged to my father who just recently passed away. When I saw it, I immediately ran to the tailor. Wearing this suit is like having my father with me today,” said Jones.

Despite the suit being off-white, the tribute to his father helped put Jones in the victor’s circle in a fashion rivalry with Spivey Jr.

The two best friends had been claiming for weeks, via facebook, that they respectively would have the better outfit during the event. Early in the evening, before the competition could be officially judged, Spivey conceded that Jones had the better look of the night. 

John Boyce, president of the Friends of Gorgas Park and resident of Roxborough, came out to support Jones’ campaign.

While he said that the Councilman has not been as visible as his predecessor, Mayor Michael Nutter, he praised Jones for all the support he gave to helping Gorgas Park grow.

“He has really been a good friend to the park,” said Boyce.

Jones’ councilmanic district includes Manayunk, East Falls, Roxborough, Wynnefield, Wynnefield Heights and Overbrook.

Cindy Bass, who recently won a contentious primary battle in the Eighth District, was also in attendance. The eighth district consists of Germantown, Logan, Nicetown, Tioga, Ogontz, parts of Hunting Park, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.

Bass says she’s excited to be working with her friend in Council chambers in 2012.

“I’m excited for this January. I feel we’ve brought together a great staff and we hope to accomplish great things for this city,” said Bass.

This is a corrected version of an earlier story that implied that Cindy Bass is running unopposed in the General Election in November.  Bass will be opposed by write-in candidate and Chestnut Hill resident Brian Rudnick. 

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal