Questions arise over statements attributed to Philly Council candidate

A candidate for Philadelphia City Council appears in danger of losing the party’s endorsement.

 

It started when City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sanchez publicized what she said are social media postings from her challenger Manny Morales. Philadelphia Democratic Party Chair and Congressman Bob Brady said the posts have him wondering whether Morales should receive party backing.

“The ward leaders endorsed a candidate in the district, then that candidate comes before the whole body for ratification,” Brady said. “We didn’t ratify this yet. I didn’t vote on this yet.”

City Controller Alan Butkovitz, a ward leader who voted for Morales, said if the candidate actually made homophobic and racist comments, he would reconsider his endorsement.

“We may very well just leave it up to the voters to choose in the 7th Council District,” Butkovitz said.

The Morales campaign issued a statement saying the allegations are “baseless and fabricated,” hinting that someone else made the posts using the name Manny Morales.