While you were gone: Inky endorses* Williams, Clarke strolls with Kenney and today’s events

  Mayoral candidate Jim Kenney (left) and City Council President Darrell Clarke tour North Philadelphia. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)

Mayoral candidate Jim Kenney (left) and City Council President Darrell Clarke tour North Philadelphia. (Brad Larrison/for NewsWorks)

Wondering what’s been going on with the mayoral campaign since you walked away from your computer on Friday? We got you covered.

Let’s check out a few stories that have run here, and via other media outlets, in the past few days. (And one that’s coming up.)

2 stories we’re covering today

— At 9 a.m., Philadelphia’s mayoral candidates will catch up with fourth and fifth graders at the School District of Philadelphia headquarters for the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement mayoral forum. That night, attention will shift to the Temple Performing Arts Center for The Next Mayor Debate, scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. We’ll cover both, about which details can be found via this link.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

12 stories we’re linking

Williams gets Inquirer nod in Philly mayor’s race, amid some controversy (Dave Davies Off Mic): After the endorsement appeared online, word began circulating among Jim Kenney’s supporters that the members of the editorial board favored Kenney, but that they’d been overruled by the paper’s owner and publisher, H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest.

Williams, narrowly (Inquirer): For two men representing different facets of the city — the passionate Irish Catholic son of a firefighter from East Passyunk; the even-keeled son of an African American politician from Cobbs Creek — they are a remarkably close match. But the balance of power in City Hall isn’t so close. Because the unions backing Kenney already wield too much influence, The Inquirer’s choice for the Democratic nomination is Anthony Williams.

Clarke hosts, but doesn’t endorse Kenney (NewsWorks): City Council President Darrell Clarke is arguably the most powerful African-American politician in Philadelphia. Kenney is a white candidate looking for black votes. And while Clarke didn’t endorse him, being seen with the Council president in the heart of his district is an image that can only help.

The (New) Jim Kenney for Mayor (Philly Mag): Jim Kenney has shown enough in this campaign to make us believe that of the candidates before us, he’s the best choice.

Philly mayoral hopeful Abraham pins school spending on Wolf’s tax breaks (NewsWorks): The bulk of her school-funding plan for 2016 and beyond relies on Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget tax making it through a Republican-controlled state Legislature. In every subsequent year, Abraham proposes diverting $88 million earmarked in Wolf’s budget for property tax relief in Philadelphia to the school district.

Abraham happy to run on her record (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): After two decades as Philadelphia district attorney, Abraham long ago acquired the politician’s skill of remembering almost everyone. And most everyone knows her, too.

Williams back on TV; Will his super PAC go negative? (Off Mic): After having been off the air for two weeks, the mayoral campaign of Philadelphia State Senator Anthony Williams is up with a new TV ad. But the key question in the race is whether the richly-endowed super PAC boosting his candidacy is prepared to go negative.

Mayoral candidates pledge support for Black political agenda (Philadelphia Tribune): All six Philadelphia Democratic candidates for mayor have signed a pledge crafted by the leaders of a recent Black Political Summit, group leaders said.

Transcript: Bill Green, Tony Williams discuss Helen Gym and Thursday’s Susquehanna Intl. dust-up [updated] (NewsWorks): A strange thing happened after Thursday’s labor rally for Philadelphia mayoral candidate Anthony Hardy Williams at Love Park. Both Williams and School Reform Commissioner Bill Green blasted City Council candidate/education activist Helen Gym’s “duplicity” at asking for the former’s support, then joining in a news conference condemning some of his key supporters.

Voters feel little enthusiasm in Phila. mayor’s race (The Next Mayor/Inqurier): Polling done on behalf of Jim Kenney suggests about 18 percent of all black voters remain undecided. Why does that matter? Well, an estimated 40 percent to 45 percent of registered Democrats are African American, representing the city’s largest racial voting block.

Mayoral race: Referendum on Black politics in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Tribune): The history raises the question why in 2015 Williams, who has the experience and vision to be a good mayor, is in a political scuffle for Black votes. The circumstance has less to do with voter sentiment toward Williams than general frustration with Black elected officials.

New voting machines might not make it past Philly City Council vote (NewsWorks): Philadelphia’s budget plan calls for purchasing new voting machines, but some City Council members are balking at the $22 million expense.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal