Thanks to redistricting chaos, Milton Street may face sheriff’s daughter in state-rep race

Milton Street has had a change of heart.

When he told NewsWorks last week that he would seek a state-house seat, it was for the 195th district, which covers Strawberry Mansion, Mantua and a section of North Philadelphia.

In the time since, however, chaos ensued in the form of the state Supreme Court tossing out the redistricting plan. So, he said Monday he will now seek the 197th District seat vacated by Jewell Williams who now serves as Philadelphia’s sheriff.

In that race, Street would run against Williams’s daughter Jewel to represent a district which covers areas of North and North Central Philadelphia including Allegheny West, West Kensington, Fairhill, Hunting Park, Tioga and Feltonville.

As with all things Milton Street, he said the drama is already unfolding. Canvassing for nominating-petition signatures at 22nd and Cambria streets on Saturday, he said he and the sheriff “had words on the street.” He said he has also received calls from Williams supporters.

Street said he was asked why he was running against Williams’s daughter, and he responded, “This isn’t Cuba.”

“If you want a fight, I’ll give you a fight,” he recounted Monday. “This will be a knock-down, drag-out one.”

Williams’s spokesman Joe Blake was a bit more measured in his response.

“He did have a conversation with him, but it was congenial. That was it,” Blake said. “A few questions. They talked about the race. It lasted about a minute and a half.”