Editorial | The race still isn't over

When the results of the Philadelphia Democratic mayoral primary were released on the night of May 15, a plurality of citizens across the city could breathe a sigh of relief - Michael Nutter was victorious in the election.

Almost all of the local print media establishments, from The Philadelphia Inquirer to Philadelphia Magazine (and The Daily Pennsylvanian), endorsed Nutter in the race, lauding his history of service in City Council, the breadth and depth of his plans for the city and his attempts at ethics reform.

Many voters - 37 percent, to be exact - agreed.

Hopefully, we're all right.

Philadelphia has a host of problems that need to be addressed quickly, from its rising rate of gun violence to the culture of corruption in City Hall.

And it is the severity of these problems that makes the lackadaisical attitude many are taking to the upcoming mayoral election itself so troubling.

We said it ourselves in our endorsement: "The mayoral election [was] essentially decided by the outcome of the Democratic primary."

With good reason, of course; Philadelphia registered voters are 5:1 Democratic.

Still, this sort of sentiment is all too commonplace.

More discussion and vigorous debate needs to occur in the months before November about the problems our city faces, and the ways to address them.

Which is why the campaigns of individuals like Republican Al Taubenberger are so valuable - not because their victory is likely, but because Michael Nutter, like any candidate for a major civic position, still needs to be pressed on his ideas.

And judging from the tone Nutter took during his victory speech, it seems he understands that his victory is no excuse to usher him straight into City Hall.

The Democratic candidate is likely a good choice for mayor, but important conversations about our city's hopefully bright future are still possible among the electorate. Until November, they must still occur.

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