Street pulls out - and comes back

Last week, Philadelphia's most colorful mayoral candidate bowed out of the race.

But don't worry, Milton Street fans: He's already back in the action.

Street announced last week just hours before the filing deadline that he was dropping out of the race to become Philadelphia's next mayor.

But current Mayor John Street's older brother isn't out of Philadelphia politics just yet - he also announced that he will run for City Council against a field of 20 other candidates, including John Street's son, Sharif.

By dropping out of the mayor's race, Milton Street abruptly reversed the course he had laid out for himself several weeks ago.

Despite facing an upcoming federal trial on corruption charges and serious questions about whether he even lives in the city, Street repeatedly vowed to continue his campaign.

In response to critics, he staged a rally outside City Hall last week, promising to drop out if fewer than 5,000 supporters showed up.

And even though only several dozen came, Street refused to pull out.

But Street finally bit the bullet last week, finally bowing out in what he calls an attempt to have the city's black population "unify behind one candidate."

Street called for the other three black candidates - state Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Phila.), former Councilman Michael Nutter and Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) - to follow his example.

But Street's effect on the mayoral election may still be felt.

He has vowed to challenge the candidacy of Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.) - who incorrectly failed to note pension money he receives from the city on a financial-disclosure form - in court today.

When asked why he decided to contemplate legal action against Brady, Street accused Brady and the Philadelphia Democratic party, of which Brady has been chairman for the past 20 years, of using similar pretexts to knock candidates off the ballot over the years.

"Didn't he make a mistake on his financial-disclosure form?" Street asked, voicing his opinion that the city's judges - many of whom are Democratic appointees - wouldn't dare to end the congressman's candidacy.

"I will guarantee you that the chairman of the Democratic party . will not get knocked off the ballot. So there's a double standard," he said.

Brady's campaign takes a different view.

Campaign spokeswoman Kate Philips accused Street of using the threat of legal action as a pretext for getting "media attention."

She noted that Brady received more than 24,000 signatures on his nominating petition, an indication, she said, of his support among city voters.

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