Philadelphia teachers union endorses Jim Kenney’s mayoral quest

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We know it’s only been a week since the words “we here at NinetyNine do not intend to cover every single mayoral-endorsement event between now and May 19” accompanied a shout-out to the “Philadelphia Mayoral-Race Endorsement Tracker” on this very blog.

But yet again, NinetyNine finds itself in a position where an endorsement-announcement event warranted further coverage.

In this case, we’re talking about the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers backing Jim Kenney’s quest to become the city’s 99th mayor. After all, education is the focal issue of this Philadelphia political season.

WHYY’s Kevin McCorry made his way up to the John B. Kelly Elementary School in Germantown for Monday afternoon’s endorsement event. You can read his full story here, or see an excerpt here:

The endorsement came after a citywide vote among the PFT’s active members, which includes roughly 12,000 teachers, counselors, nurses and other school staff.

About half of those members actually cast ballots. Of those, the union voted 3 to 1 for Kenney. Former Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham placed second.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan says the union is ready to throw its full weight behind Kenney, which he said will include grassroots campaigning door to door in addition to the $11,500 maximum allowable direct campaign contribution.

“He has been a staunch supporter of our city’s educators, fighting to ensure that we have a say in what happens in our schools,” said Jordan.

Jordan said the PFT would not make an additional independent expenditure in support of Kenney. He wouldn’t rule out that possibility for the PFT’s parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers.