The cards are stacked against Karen Brown, the Democrat-turned-Republican mayoral candidate.
Democrats claim an overwhelming majority in the city — a Republican mayor has not served Philadelphia since 1952 — and incumbent mayor and 1976 Wharton graduate Michael Nutter has four years of experience on his side.
Lately, Brown cites another challenge to her campaign — the media.
On Sept. 9, Brown challenged Nutter to a series of five debates in a hand-delivered letter to the mayor. The Nutter campaign has yet to schedule any of Brown’s offered debates. So far, only one debate has been held, taped yesterday afternoon by Fox 29. It is uncertain whether there will be any more debates between the two candidates.
She was eventually able to receive some media attention, but not in the form she might have wanted. On Sept. 13, Brown was kicked out of her own union’s office building when she visited looking for political support. The conflict was featured in both the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Weekly.
Nutter himself has been on touchy terms with Philadelphia’s unions. He was booed after he made a speech in support of the city’s unions over Labor Day weekend.
On Sept. 27, when Nutter sat in NBC 10’s studio answering citizens’ tweets and emails at his “Ask the Mayor” town hall show, Brown stood outside the building, protesting the show with nine other supporters.
“How is that not biased? You’re allowing the mayor to have a puff piece right before the debate,” Brown said.
Brown had her lawyer send a letter to NBC, citing the FCC’s Equal Time Provision law as reason for the channel to offer Brown an equal amount of airtime. NBC 10 complied that night, and as of Sept. 27, has been in touch with Brown’s campaign to coordinate an appearance on-air.
“It’s smart for Karen Brown to fight for her right to have more airtime in the media,” Nursing junior and United Minority Council Political Chairwoman Liz Park said. “I think the fact that she did that kind of shows she’s a go-getter and that she’s determined to go for what for she wants.”
Tuesday, Nutter was interviewed on Radio Times. He discussed gun permits, the recession, Philadelphia unions, the School Reform Commission and his rejection of a soda-company-funded anti-obesity campaign.
Here, Brown will have an equal opportunity to air her views on Radio Times next week on Oct. 10.
Brown isn’t the only candidate who faced bias from the city. Yesterday afternoon, Fox 29 hosted the only 2011 mayoral election debate to date, featuring Brown and Nutter. A third independent candidate, Wali Rahman, was not invited to attend.
Charles Gray, College Republicans president and Wharton and College senior, weighed in on Brown’s tough chances. “Karen Brown is in a tough race,” Gray said. “But it’s a good opportunity for the Republican Party of Philadelphia to express how they would run the city if given the chance.”
Park is uncertain who will win the race, but sees the sense in the challengers’ difficult position. “Given that he’s mayor, he definitely has a more solid base and more supporters.”
