Well, I'm sure most of you saw yesterday's Daily News, but they did NOT endorse Tony Payton. Why? Because they believe that Guy Lewis is a better candidate.

They probably also have concerns over the drug history, and other shenanigans with petitions...

Here's the excerpt:

179th: A nurse with the Army Nurse Corps and veteran of the first Gulf War, Guy D. Lewis is making his first run at political office. But Lewis' passion for health care and his real-life experience (he's a nurse in Temple University Hospital's emergency room) will make him an instant expert in Harrisburg. We were impressed by his ideas for community-based wellness centers and that he considers violence a health issue. Rep. Tony Payton tried to flex a lot of muscle as a freshman legislator on issues such as red-light-camera funds for school and a statewide scholarship program, but had little to show for it. We believe Guy D. Lewis will be a responsible voice in Harrisburg.

I don't know if any people on here read Philly Blog, but someone just posted the criminal dockets from 2002 when Tony Payton was arrested for drug posession, conspiracy, parphernalia, etc. The actual court documents are posted. I gather these charges were thrown out, but the person posting is questioning whether he still has a drug problem.

It's a pretty interesting read for anyone didn't see it. I guess we shouldn't repost those documents here, but I know a lot of people on this blog follow Payton:

http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/politics/54760-tony-paytons-run-law.htm...

It is time for Tony Payton to do the right thing, and withdraw from his bid for the 179th District. Corruption cannot be tolerated by anyone!

Payton signed off as the circulator on a petition that had FIVE DEAD PEOPLE signed on, and his OPPONENT'S MOTHER. His opponent's mother has already said she didn't sign the petition.

This is clearly a kitchen table job, something that the Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has recently taken very seriously. Although this issue is starting to draw significant attention, it appears that his friends are working hard to silence any criticism.

HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE? Has anyone heard a reasonable explanation for dead people signed on? Or an opponent's mother? How is this different than the Bebko-Jones case? Also, since these same names were on the petition for state rep. as well as for delegate for Obama, this is both a state and federal issue?

So, where is the outrage? Where is the call for an explanation?

Does anyone know Wally Zimolong? I just came across his website: http://www.wallyzimolong.com/

He looks like a young guy, and figured someone must know him, and what his deal is.. I guess most likely he'll be running against Babette Joseph's, since Larry Farnese dropped out of that race. He also seems to go out of his way to be non-partisan on his site, despite his choice of picture..

The Inky ran an editorial a few days ago about how people should run against the incumbents to shake-up the local political scene. Looks like Michael Nutter takes exception to that in the case of Bob Brady, however. I copied his op/ed below from today's Inquirer.

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New political blood? Why, sure, but we need veterans like Brady

By: Michael A. Nutter is mayor-elect of Philadelphia

Of the many images I carry with me from the days after the mayoral primary, one is of an editorial cartoon. In it, I am depicted as the quarterback standing behind an offensive line of Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Dwight Evans.

I was reminded of this image when I read your Nov. 29 editorial, "Wanted: New Political Blood."

Was anyone at the "community day" in the park in Overbrook yesterday? It was thrown by Bob Brady as an event for the community to come together, and everyone to get to meet their neighbors, etc. Apparently, there were 5,000 to 7,000 people there, with donated food for everyone, free bookbags for children, amusement rides, etc. I stopped by, and it was crazy how big it was. Also, Michael Nutter stopped by, and was greeting everyone, and spending a lot of time with Brady.

While I was there, I heard that 150 of the 34th Ward committee people have volunteered their time to staff the ward headquarters at 65th and Haverford Avenue monday to friday. It's open from like 10 to 4, and open for anyone in the community to come in for any constituent service or complain. The committee people have been fanning out to let everyone know that this is open to them, to ensure responsiveness from their elected officials.

If anyone wants to read the indictment of Donald Dougherty, the 33 pages can be found at:

http://media.philly.com/documents/doughertyindictment.pdf

Also, there is a lot of reference to IBEW Local 98 Official #1. The Inquirer is alleging that this is John Dougherty. They do refer to Official #1's Moyamensing Avenue rowhouse as his home...

From the Inquirer: "A Philadelphia electrical contractor was charged Tuesday with stealing $869,000 from a union benefits plan, bribing a bank executive, and "making illegal payments" to labor leader John J. Dougherty.

These "illegal payments," authorities said, included the sale of a house to John Dougherty for $24,000 below market value and $115,000 worth of electrical work on the labor leader's Philadelphia home.

Dougherty was not charged with a crime, but U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan said that the case remains open and that the related transactions "are still of great interest to investigators."