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Council candidate gets backing from mayor ... of NYC

Philadelphia's mayor didn't back him.

So City Council candidate Joe Grace went out and snagged the endorsement of New York City's mayor.

Grace is embroiled in a four-way race for the First District seat, and Mayor Nutter has lined up behind one of his rivals.

Here is Grace's response, so to speak. The press release:

NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

Endorses Joe Grace for City Council

Another major endorsement for Grace. In final weeks of campaign momentum gathers: Rendell, Inquirer, Daily News, Bloomberg.

PHILADELPHIA – This morning, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, chairman of the national Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition, which includes nearly 200 Pennsylvania mayors, endorsed Joe Grace for Philadelphia's First District City Council seat. This is Grace's fourth major endorsement in less than two weeks, following the endorsement of Governor Ed Rendell, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Philadelphia Daily News.

"Joe Grace has been a tireless, fearless, and effective fighter for common sense gun policies that make our neighborhoods safer," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "We need more leaders like him in elected office, and sending him to the Philadelphia City Council would be a victory for a safer and stronger Philadelphia."

Mayor Bloomberg joins Mayors from across Pennsylvania – including Reading, Lancaster, and Allentown – weighing in, in favor of Joe Grace, as a candidate who knows how to get things done, and will make reducing violence a priority if elected to City Council.

Last week, The Inquirer endorsed Joe because of his, "refreshingly reform-minded platform… and successful efforts to curb gun trafficking in Philadelphia and other cities." The Daily News, which often goes in a different direction than the Inquirer endorsed Joe, noting his "on-the-ground experience to be the best candidate for the job." And former Mayor and Governor Ed Rendell endorsed Joe because of "his incredible ability t get things done."

As Executive Director of CeaseFirePA, Joe was one of the leading advocates in the nation for reforms to reduce gun violence by cracking down on criminals who use and traffic illegal guns. When the state legislature refused to consider passing a statewide lost or stolen handgun reporting requirement, Joe led the movement of 47 cities and towns in Pennsylvania – beginning in Philadelphia – to adopt the law locally. When the NRA sued – Joe helped beat them in court five times, including in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Now every major city in the state is protected by the reform, as well as dozens of smaller communities in between.

As this Council race comes to a close, one candidate is breaking through the crowd with every major endorsement in Philadelphia – Joe Grace.

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