I want to send congrats to all the winners and all the losers in yesterday's race. It was long and hard fight, but we had Philadelphia's future at hand when we went to the polls. I hope that we continue the fight to make a better Philadelphia. I hate to see people run for different offices and then fall out of the radar. There is so much that we can do, only together we can accomplish real achievements in this city. If you think one man at 215 can do the job, your sadly mistaken . The future begins today but I want to go back to the past for a second. To reflect on a wonderful job that Mike Nutter did to get this far. This man is the real champ in Philadelphia. A story that we will not forget. The real Rocky story, he didn't have enough money to beat Knox ,not enough sex appeal as Brady, or a smile like Fattah , but he prevailed over the rest. A true testament that the Nutter Butters truly paid off....

I want to start this story a couple of months ago, maybe a coooold Thursday in February. It had to be the coldest day of the year to me, I'm not to keen to the cold weather even though I was born in December. Waking up to a transit stop was always fun to be but not this day. It was so cold, there is nothing like chipping of the ice and snow off your car to start your day. But none the less a job had to be done. So I bundle up extra hot and began my usual morning. Now this is the start of a 18 hour day of working for a campaign that had the jump on the competition since last year. Nutter had it in his mind that he wanted this job , wanted to leave the cushy City Council to make a true difference in our city. I remember when I heard him announce that he wanted to leave Council to run for Mayor, the first thing that came to mind was why? Why would someone like him with 15 yrs dedicated to our city quit to take a job like this, especially behind the mess that Street left behind. But Nutter showed dedication when he first stepped in office at Council ,and showed dedication when he announced that he was leaving to finish the job he started. The next thing was just coming fresh I think of the non smoking ban he placed, how will he be presented to all the voters that he upset with this new ruling ,changing lives of all Philadelphians?

Back to the story , it was a cold February and I didn't want to go to a transit stop. At least not this one, but I owe this to Nutter for all the things that he as done for me. I remember how a former Councilman listen to a call that I placed for guidance. No one knew me or could even care about my name. I wanted to know how our city operated with one day the dreams of following politics. I had a dream like Nutter, to make this a better Philadelphia but didn't know how to do it. He was the only one to take a young North Philly kid along for the ride for a crash course of how to be a perfect public servant. No work in the office, a crash course on the mean hot streets of Philly at that time, to learn things that would cost me thousands in college. So im extra bundled for this cold windy morning that had to start at 7 a.m. fresh. It takes about 30 Min's to clean and warm up your car before you start your day. Then a nice trip though Philly traffic during our winter season. I don't have to tell how bad that is. I think I was almost running late so I jumped on our congested Broad Street Line to make it just in time to , Pass Out Nutter Butters????

Now when I first heard about this , I laughed and said this wouldn't work! Passing out cookies and flyer's was the dumbest thing I ever heard. But it was more than passing out cookies at transit stops. Who would have thought I would learn so much from passing out cookies. Some people raced just to receive a cookie from us. All of us cold, frost bitten, and still sleepy trying to pass out flyer's while Nutter is up and vibrant. He's always up and alive during these transit stops, looking like he was made for this day. Have you ever tried to stand in the intersection that is a transit stop? There is like a million people moving 100 mph trying to make their bus or train for work. Try to stop them to talk about anything and they might fight you! So while loading up my pockets with cookies that weren't that bad to eat, I had to work out a game plan on how to stop speeding bullets for a simple conversation about Mike Nutter. Something’s are worth standing in a wind tunnel that is 15& Market during a winter storm. But nothing stopped Nutter from putting his message across. He had a mission and a team that could carry out that mission. Sort of like Patton going to war, he was no holds barred when it came to work. Tough and stern, Nutter was driven to show his staff that he didn't quit City Council to play around. And wanted equal from his volunteers that your here to work as hard as he is to make this city great. That transit stop became a success despite the weather ,just as the other stops were. I felt proud to work next to a man that was willing to be thrown out to the wolves , still keep a smile and pass out cookies just to say hello.

Did having a head start above the rest give him a advantage to win, who knows? But he had a game plan that I think some didn't have to win. Determination and Nutter Butters can go a long way to win over a city that’s just tired of all the bull that’s been pushed on their door steps. Some people didn't even know who he was, but they could tell that he was serious and why he should be your next Mayor. Nearly cracking a smile , determined to show the world that he's here for us. When I first met him , I thought he was all business with no connection to our streets. Always in suit and tie, can he relate to the needs of our city living in a neighborhood that’s rarely violent , rowdy, and congested? Then I seen him throw a foot ball with the kids and attending games in one of the most violent neighborhoods in South West at the time. I was convinced that day that he was the one we needed to help us over the Street Era of broken promises, poor job growth, poverty and crime that's made this city its home. Its very rare to find someone who's as passionate about this city as Mike Nutter. For those to say that he can't relate to the streets or against civil rights with this "Stop AND Frisk" tactic really don't the Mike Nutter that I work along side with . That's far from the truth when it comes to his commitment , loyalty to all races and religions. Working on campaigns with certain candidates shows the true character of a person and why they got into this race in the first place.

Not to say all of this cause I worked on his campaign , but because he's the right man for this job. This job that no one really wanted in the first place. If they did want the job , they wouldn't have waited 4 weeks before the primary to hit the streets. You race to win, not to show face. I wasn't impressed with the other candidates like I was with Nutter. Some thought they could use their money , name , and clout to move ahead of the polls. But it was all just a waste of time. I asked the question of why these candidates wanted this job and why couldn't they help this city in their respected positions? No one had a clear answer to the question but Nutter. Nutter didn't quit Council to lose or come second place. He wanted the job more than the rest , fought harder than the rest. Went to all the debates and all the organizational meetings place for the candidates. It hurt my feelings that some of the candidates could care less about organizations like YPP or Philly for Change. These are the grassroots that help trees like Nutter and candidates like him grow in this city. People take groups like us for granted, but we elect winners, true progressives that are here to make this city better.

God bless Mike Nutter who I have lots of love and respect for and good luck with the rest of the race. And to all the winners of yesterday's election, you have my full support . And thank you Mike Nutter for giving me a chance, now this city is willing to give you a chance. Take advantage of this moment like I did that cold day in February. You never know when its your last.