Mayoral candidates: Free association

May 13, 2007
Chris Satullo
Inquirer Editorial Board Editor

At Great Expectations forums earlier this month, participants played “free association” on the Philadelphia mayoral candidates. As each of the five names was called out, citizens said the first words or phrases that popped into their heads. The results were varied and interesting, giving a peek inside voters’ heads as a topsy-turvy campaign heads to the finish line. Here’s a representative sampling of responses about each man:

Bob Brady

Man of his word. Mediator. Corrupt. Part of the problem. Compromiser. Union. Boss. Connections. Big chunk of a man. Rizzo Lite. Dinosaur. Why is he in race? Building trades.
Flamboyant. Machine. Blue collar. Deal-maker. Status quo. Rizzo without the baggage. Bully. Inarticulate. Entrenched. Loyal to a fault. Old boy network. Joe Sixpack. Returns calls. Surprisingly progressive on gay issues. Pol. Hack. All right guy. Extrovert. Funny. Likable. Uninspired. Nepotism. Not educated. Charming. Shrewd. Pork. Nice guy. There when you need a friend.

Dwight Evans

Done a great job in district. Underdog. Visionary. Sincere. Shows up. Committed. Capable. Determined. Should stay where he is. Respected. Creative. Gave us casinos. Big on education. Not a good speaker. West Oak Lane. Ogontz Avenue. Excellent in Harrisburg, should stay. Charter schools. Supermarkets. Nice guy. Innovative. Angry. What’s with this table of his?
Feisty. George Foreman. Savvy. Dedicated. Knowledgeable. Too confrontational. Hurt the schools. Will lose. Deserves more credit. Cassandra. Canary in mineshaft. He cares but doesn’t connect with audience. Would be great mayor. Stay in Harrisburg, Dwight.

Chaka Fattah

Classic politician. Arrogant. Wants to come home. Narrow focus. Superficial. Empty suit. Laid-back. Shady. Big-picture guy. Slick. Another John Street. Fat and 50. Out of touch. Too comfortable. Hot air. “His smirk drives me nuts.” Says what I care about isn’t important to him. Concerned about poverty. Bright. Mumia. Cheshire cat. Should stay in Washington. “I like his mother; she should run.” Renee. Self-centered. All about education. Experienced. Excellent airport idea. Too far left. Asked a question, and says, “Go look at my Web site.” Nice suits. Full of himself. Undistinguished. Got many kids into college. Evasive. Good on gun control. Broad and shallow understanding.

Tom Knox

Family man. Rigid. “Where’d he come from?” Awkward. Straight shooter. Economic knowledge. Doesn’t owe anyone. Rich. Money, money, money. Fort Knox. Man with vision.
Phony. Expedient. Bright. Bloomberg Lite. Needs Dale Carnegie Course. Dull. Can’t be bought. Bumbler. Unprepared. Too eager. Close to business interests. Out of touch. Bought his way in. Fiscally responsible. Believes in himself. Genuine. Fake. Spineless. Dictatorial. Wants to own team. Contradiction. Articulate. Predatory lender. Monopolizer. Inexperienced. Good to his mother.
Cold. Anti-social. Like Corzine. Skeletons in closet. Would shake things up. Reformer. Outsider, and that’s a good thing. Credibility under fire.

Michael Nutter

Not a people person. Gets his way. Stubborn. Gave something up to run. Integrity. Dad. Olivia. Experienced. Smart. Educated. Brainy. Brainiac. Arrogant. Hard worker. Never missed a meeting. Honest. From “The Prep.” Responsive. Wannabe. Prickly when challenged. Sticks with convictions. Original ideas. “I’m not impressed.” Articulate. Self-righteous. Polished. Good government. Technocrat. Inflexible. Impatient. Serious. Aloof. Anti-Street. “Get
rid of the goatee, Mike.” No negative ads. Wonk. Smoking ban. Level-headed. Underdog. Dull. Doesn’t pander. No charisma. Not a team player. Does his homework. Too serious. Independent. Kermit the Frog. Gets it. The best. Actually answers questions. Micromanager. Progressive. Nerdy. Against the machine.