While you were gone: Kenney’s poll, Williams’ new ad, a Relished endorsement and more

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.)

1 story we’re covering today

— Today, according to a campaign press release, Jim Kenney will “join elected officials and community leaders from Northwest Philadelphia for a special announcement at Relish. Following the announcement, Kenney will join the representatives for a tour of neighborhood businesses.” NinetyNine heard about this “NW Kick-Off To Election Day” event in West Oak Lane from NewsWorks‘ Northwest Philadelphia team more than a week ago; we’re expecting a collective endorsement (and one that may have drawn some last-minute lobbying from (an)other candidate(s). Coverage coming from state Rep. and 2007 mayoral candidate Dwight Evans’ stomping ground this afternoon.

9 stories we’re linking

— Second TV ad from group backing Williams for Philly mayor (NewsWorks/Off Mic): The independent political committee funded by three wealthy suburban donors backing state Sen. Anthony Williams in the Philadelphia mayor’s race has produced its second ad of the campaign. Like the first ad, this 30-second spot from the committee, American Cities, is a positive semi-biographical ad.

— Oliver: ‘Police have good reason to fear black men’ (NewsWorks/The Philadelphia Experiment): “The sad truth is that the police have good reason to fear black men,” said Philadelphia mayoral candidate Doug Oliver during a mayoral forum on Monday. As one of six journalists questioning the six candidates, I sat just two seats away from Oliver as he spoke, and I listened to him elaborate as shocked silence enveloped the room. Oliver responds to Jones’ post in the comments section.

— Voters still watch Jeopardy, and more on the mayors race (NewsWorks/Off Mic): With six weeks to go until the Philadelphia Democratic mayoral primary, a few observations as the race begins to take some form.

— New voting machines in Philadelphia’s future, but what kind still unknown (NewsWorks): Philadelphia’s electronic voting machines are only 13 years old, but they are tired and need to be replaced. The proposed city budget includes money for new machines.

— Kenney backers’ poll finds a tight race with Williams (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): A poll conducted last week for a group supporting Democratic mayoral candidate Jim Kenney shows him in a statistical dead heat with one of his five rivals, State Sen. Anthony H. Williams. The pollsters said Kenney had the support of 26 percent of likely voters surveyed, while Williams had 25 percent, former District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham 20 percent, former State Sen. T. Milton Street 4 percent, and former Judge Nelson Diaz and former mayoral aide Doug Oliver at 3 percent each, with 19 percent undecided.

— Union loyalties could determine Philly’s next mayor (The Next Mayor/Inquirer): Just below the surface of the mayor’s race is a simmering union feud that has nothing to do with billionaires or schools or public safety or other issues and is instead all about the Convention Center. Union carpenters and Teamsters lost their slice of the labor payday at the center in May when they missed a deadline to sign on to new work rules. Local 98 and other unions did sign, and crossed the picket lines of the exiled unions. That split is reflected in the mayor’s race, with Tony Williams supported by the unions who lost work, and Jim Kenney by the unions that kept working.

— Five things revealed about Philly’s mayoral candidates this week (Philadelphia Weekly): Amidst the vague acronyms and facts at the recent Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations forum, themes became apparent that are likely going to shape the race in its final seven weeks.

— ICYMI: Lively ‘City Council Candidates Convention’ engages hundreds of young voters at WHYY [photos + audio] (NinetyNine): What drew hundreds of voters and dozens of candidates to Independence Mall on Thursday night was Young Involved Philly’s (YIP) inaugural “City Council Candidate Convention,” a unique meet-and-greet event co-sponsored by the Committee of Seventy and hosted by WHYY.

— Get ready for election day at the Next Mayor Debate (PhillyVoice): The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly.com and the Philadelphia Daily News will host a debate between the Democratic candidates Monday, May 4, at Temple University. The event will be held in partnership with WHYY, the Committee of Seventy, 900-AM WURD, Technical.ly Philly, Temple’s Center for Public Interest Journalism and Young Involved Philadelphia.