NinetyNine’s mayoral campaign-coverage week in review

 Students from KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy were among those who asked questions of six Democratic candidates for mayor at Thursday's forum in Parkside. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Students from KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy were among those who asked questions of six Democratic candidates for mayor at Thursday's forum in Parkside. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

At high noon each Friday during Philadelphia’s mayoral-primary season, NinetyNine will post a roundup of noteworthy stories from the previous week. Miss a couple days of coverage, or just want to catch up over the weekend? We’ve got you covered.

From NinetyNine and NewsWorks:

Philly’s Dem. mayoral candidates appear at campaign’s first group forum: Excluding that possibility that the Rev. Keith Goodman and Queena Bass will end up on the ballot, a Thursday morning forum in Parkside marked the first time the entire Democratic field for mayor spoke about their candidacies from the same stage.

Could Sam Katz win the mayor’s office as an independent?: Is it crazy time? Could Sam Katz, a three-time loser in past Philadelphia mayoral bids as a Republican, win this year as an independent? Dave Davies took a deeper look at Katz’s prospects.

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Eliminating well-intended campaign finance limitations will make city elections more fair (Essayworks/Daniel Fee): Heading into the third mayoral election under Philadelphia’s campaign finance and ethics reforms, it’s increasingly clear that those well-intentioned efforts have had unexpected consequences that are making city elections less competitive and campaigns less transparent.

What Milton Street would’ve said if tonight’s campaign launch didn’t get snowed out: T. Milton Street Sr. was gonna launch his latest mayoral campaign at a North Philly church Tuesday night. Forecasts of snow prompted Street to postpone the event, fearing that the precip could lead to an attendance dip. Still, he set aside some time at an Aramingo Avenue IHOP table to offer NinetyNine a preview of his script.

Report: Mayoral candidates ‘appear to be listening to the Philadelphia tech community’: NinetyNine’s good friends over at Technical.ly Philly recently sent a 14-query questionnaire to five declared mayoral candidates to get a sense of where they stand “on issues shaping the city’s innovation ecosystem.” On Tuesday, they shared details about topics on which the candidates agree and areas on which they don’t.

There may (or may not) be a 7th (or 8th) Dem. mayoral candidate: The Rev. Keith Goodman tell it says he is officially a candidate for mayor. However, folks with a working knowledge of Home Rule Charter residency requirements say that Goodman’s energy, passion, vision and ability doesn’t overcome the fact that he can’t, y’know, run.

There may (or may not) be an 8th (or 9th) Dem. mayoral candidate: Meet Juan Rodriguez, a North Philadelphia man who may (or may not) have launched his candidacy at a strip club near Germantown Ave. and Diamond St.

Yes, Philadelphia, there is a Republican mayoral-primary candidate: Does a Republican candidate who fared poorly in 2011’s City Council at-large field stand a snowball’s chance in hell of winning Philly’s mayoral race? Elmer Money hopes so. (Related story: Trio of mayoral aspirants scheduled to meet with GOP ward leaders)

From elsewhere:

Ferrick: Can’t trust millennials as a voter base (The Next Mayor): Doug Oliver, 40, plans to draw his support from among the largest bloc of potential voters in the city: those aged 18 to 34. Shouldn’t this provide him with the base he needs?

Could Ed Rendell Endorse Long-Shot Candidate Doug Oliver for Mayor? (Citified): The prospect of Ed Rendell endorsing Doug Oliver for mayor is insane. Oliver has almost no money, nearly no name recognition and absolutely no experience in elected office. It would never happen, right? Actually, maybe it’s not as crazy as it sounds.

North Philly man launches quixotic mayoral campaign, with poles in mind (The Next Mayor): On Thursday, virtual unknown Juan Rodriguez declared that he was launching a rather quixotic effort to win the mayor’s office. There is already some dispute over whether Rodriguez made his announcement inside of a strip club.

Will failed PGW sale politically impact city GOP races? (Inqurier): Last year’s controversy about the potential sale of the Philadelphia Gas Works may serve as a point of contention among Republicans seeking public office in the May 19 primary election.

Inside Take: How the Philadelphia Nominating Petition Game Is Played (Citified): For the next three weeks, volunteers and paid field staffers will be spanning our city to convince you to sign a nomination petition for their preferred candidates. Candidates for citywide office need 1,000 valid signatures from registered voters in their party to appear on the May 19 primary ballot (plus pay a nominal $100 filing fee); candidates for district Council races need 750.

Former Mayor Street believes the Rev. Goodman can run (The Next Mayor): “Under a liberal interpretation of the applicable provisions of Pennsylvania and municipal election law – which I believe is required – Pastor Goodman is fully qualified to run for mayor in the municipal primary election of 2015,” Street said by email.

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