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REPRINTED FROM THENEXTMAYOR.COMApril 3, 2007 press release, (submitted via e-mail) |
PHILADELPHIA, April 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an effort to dig beneath the standard campaign rhetoric surrounding the upcoming mayoral primary -- Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth asked the candidates in the mayoral primary to turn back the clock and tell us what they were like as boys, in preparation for PCCY's upcoming candidates' forum focusing on issues affecting children and youth. [The forum will be held tomorrow evening, Wednesday April 4th at 6:30 pm, at the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street.]
Asked to fill out the brief questionnaire as they would have at age 12 -- the candidates revealed that as kids, they much preferred sports to politics. "I love all sports!" declared Bob Brady. "Stickball games were legendary in my neighborhood. We could play for hours and hours and it was if time stood still." Congressman Chaka Fattah said that he liked to read and to play basketball, box, swim and bike for fun. For Tom Knox -- sandlot baseball and "working my paper route" were favorite pursuits. Rep. Dwight Evans liked to "play basketball and watch movies." Michael Nutter loved to play football in the street, and for indoor fun liked to "play with my electric race cars, read, play chess and play the piano." Nutter and Fattah had some common interests: Fattah's favorite aspect of school was the Chess Club -- and he aspired to be a race car driver when he grew up.
As 12-year-olds, not one of the candidates specifically wanted to pursue politics or elected office: Dwight Evans wanted to be an oceanographer; Mike Nutter a professional football player; Bob Brady a police officer "like my dad." Only Tom Knox dreamed of being exactly what he became: a businessman. A tiny glimmer of interest in politics came from Chaka Fattah, who revealed that "he really enjoyed a class trip to Washington DC."
Favorite subjects in school broke down this way: Tom Knox -- algebra; Michael Nutter -- math, English ... and recess; Bob Brady -- gym class "...and the camaraderie surrounding organized sports"; Dwight Evans -- reading "because it allows me to travel to distant lands, discover what it was like to live hundreds of years ago, and learn about my heroes like Whitney Young, Martin Luther Kind and Franklin D. Roosevelt." Republican Al Taubenberger enjoyed everything about school -- and participated on the track team and the orchestra. For Green Party candidate Dr. Kerry Foster school was all about gym class, where he participated in gymnastics, martial arts, swimming and diving.
All the candidates expressed great enthusiasm and nostalgia for the neighborhoods where they grew up -- and they grew up all over the city: Germantown, East Falls, Overbrook, West Philadelphia, Mantua and Burholme. They describe their neighborhoods as "close knit and full of families", "well- maintained", "great places to grow up" with stores, playgrounds, parks and recreation centers nearby.
The complete profiles submitted by the five candidates in the democratic primary as well as the Republican candidate Al Taubenberger and Green Party candidate Kerry Foster are available via email. Call contact above to send. They include who the candidates admired most when they were kids and what their neighborhoods were like, their hobbies and interests.
"Our 'Kids as Candidates' profiles presented an opportunity for the candidates to tell us something fresh and personal about themselves -- something that our audience of adults and young people can relate to," said PCCY Executive Director Shelly Yanoff. "The stable, carefree environments the candidates' recollect from childhood are a reminder of how much hard work lies ahead -- to reclaim our neighborhoods and make them safe for kids again and to improve our schools so they include extracurricular activities, art and music. As a community -- we owe that every Philadelphia child."
The PCCY "Candidates and Kids" forum is a free event, but registration is encouraged. Register on line at http://www.pccy.org or call 215-563-5848 to reserve a seat.
PCCY "Candidates & Kids" Mayoral Forum to Focus on Issues Affecting Children & Youth
Wednesday -- 6:30pm -- Free Library of Philadelphia, Main Branch -- 1901 Vine Street
All candidates in democratic primary are expected to attend
-- "Kids Ask the Candidates" Contest Winners will ask their Questions
[list of winners below.]
-- Discussion topics include public education; early learning and day care; access to health care; violence in schools and on the streets; after-school, recreational and work opportunities for children and youth -- plus questions from the audience.
PCCY "Kids Ask the Candidates" Question Contest Winners:
Shanice Cowins, 9th grade
Overbrook High School
WINNER
Jennifer Dickens, 12th grade
Bodine High School
WINNER
Melissa Morris, 12th grade
Lamberton High School
WINNER
Marcus Perrin, 9th grade
Strawberry Mansion High School
WINNER
Kiera Smalls, 12th grade
Lamberton High School
WINNER
Nathaniel Jones, 9th grade
Overbrook High School
LIGHTENING ROUND WINNER
Tysheed Carmichael, 4th grade
Henry C. Lea School
Honorable Mention
Breonna Clinton, 9th grade
Strawberry Mansion High School
Honorable Mention
Jabriel Crandall, 5th grade
Christopher Columbus Charter School
Honorable Mention
Santiago Exconde, 6th grade
Sacred Heart of Jesus School
Honorable Mention
Michael Murray, 6th grade
A.B. Day
Honorable Mention
Yvonne Winborne, 9th grade
Winborne Constructed Home School
Honorable Mention
SOURCE Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth,