Milton Street ends one state-house campaign, launches another

Milton Street announced Thursday that he was no longer running in the Democratic primary for the 197th state-house seat vacated by current Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams.

Street will be running for something on April 24, though. And what could that be?

Yep, the 197th state-house seat vacated by current Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams.

As with all things Milton Street, it’s a quirky move that seemingly defies logic. But Street has an answer.

He will file paperwork on Monday run as an “independent Democrat” in the special election to represent North and North Central Philadelphia including Allegheny West, West Kensington, Fairhill, Hunting Park, Tioga, Feltonville and a sliver of East Falls.

Should he defeat declared candidate Gary Williams, the endorsed 32nd Ward leader, he will serve in Harrisburg through November. He did not talk what the future held beyond that during an interview Thursday night.

“With all these proposed cuts to welfare and the public, it’s important for someone like me, with experience in the House and the Senate, to be up there fighting for the district as soon as possible,” Street said. “If I win on April 24, I’ll be up there April 25 doing just that.”

The primary featuring Williams’ daughter Jewel and several other candidates will still produce a Democratic candidate in November’s general election.