The Philadelphia building and construction trades council last week endorsed five candidates for City Council at large during a news conference at its headquarters at 4170 Woodhaven Road.
The trades endorsed Democrats Isaiah Thomas, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Jim Harrity and Nina Ahmad and Republican Jim Hasher.
There are nine candidates in the race – five Democrats, two Republicans and two from the Working Families Party. Voters choose five, and the top seven are elected.
The building trades made the tough choice to endorse only five. The AFL-CIO, meanwhile, has endorsed six candidates.
All of the endorsed candidates attended the event except Richardson.
While the four endorsed Democrats are almost certain to win, Hasher could really use the support.
Boyer described him as a businessman who is an ally of the trades, is running a vigorous campaign and is in favor of construction of a new 76ers arena due to the 10,000 jobs it will create. The union boss said Hasher is not like other Republican “yahoos,” such as Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. He said the building trades will support Hasher with social media, mailings, door knocking and get-out-the-vote efforts..
“This endorsement means everything,” said Hasher, adding that Republicans can’t win citywide without labor support.
In addition to the endorsements, the building trades are backing Richardson for majority leader and Thomas for whip.
Though nobody at the news conference announced support for a candidate for Council president, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson is said to have the votes necessary to replace the retiring Darrell Clarke. ••
