The tradition continues: Famous and Relish

The tradition continued for the umpteenth time Tuesday. Politicians and other movers and shakers from around the city made their stopped at Famous 4th Street Deli in South Philadelphia and at Relish in the Northwest part the city.

And as always both scenes were quite lively.

At Famous-- where politicians for the last four decades have lunched on election day -- guests were greeted by huge cutouts of Jim Kenney (running for mayor) and Kevin Dougherty (running for Supreme Court judge) heads.

Former state Sen. T. Milton Street said his campaign opted not to have big heads on sticks because "Somebody might start shooting at them."

He later said he was confident he would get sufficient support from the African American neighborhoods, who he said had turned against state Sen. Anthony H. Williams.

"It seems to me they're really turned off by the money he's gotten from people in the suburbs," Street said, referring to three Main Line stock firm founders who invested $6.6 million in a political action committee that ran pro-Williams television ads.

Fellow mayoral rival former District Attorney Lynne Abraham, also lunched at the Famous 4th Street Deli.

Abraham also decried the outside money in the campaign, which included labor unions funding pro-Kenney political action committees.

"This election is being bought, end of story," she said. "It's being bought by big money."

Mayor Nutter had a relaxed visit to the Famous since his name was not on the ballot for the first time in decades.

"I guess this is what people do. You go to the polls. You vote," Nutter said. "I mean, I still have a city to run."

A rather new guest to the city Election Day lunch circuit was South Jersey's George E. Norcross III. The chairman of Cooper University Healthcare sat next to David L. Cohen at Neil Oxman's table.

Former City Councilman Jim Kenney, the perceived mayoral front-runner on Election Day, opted to go to Relish in the Northwest instead of Famous.

Just five month ago, then-councilman Jim Kenney had refused to attend Pennsylvania Society because he was tired of seeing the same old politicians doing the same old schmoozing. Over it, he said.

On Tuesday, however, the mayoral candidate was one of the first to show up at the Election Day Mecca of the Northwest, Relish. And boy did he schmooze.

Politicians, candidates running to be politicians, labor leaders, and lobbyists trickled in to greet the man they hope would be their next mayor. Kenney, who seemed at times a little uncomfortable with all the attention, shook everyone's hands and chatted with most.

Kenney ate lunch with Councilwoman Marian Tasco, who represents city's Ninth district in the Northwest, and Common Pleas Court Judge Kevin Dougherty, who is running for State Supreme Court (also brother of the Electricians Union Local 98 boss John Dougherty). They chowed down some fried chicken, collard green and mac & cheese.

"They say you can tell the character of a person by the friends they keep, look at this stage," Kenney said as he shared a stage with Tasco, State Rep. Dwight Evans, State Sen. Art Haywood, Council President Darrell L. Clarke and Councilwoman Cindy Bass, among others. "I couldn't ask for better friends, better people to be supporting me. I am very, very proud and humbled."

"These folks won't let me let anyone down," Kenney said to the pro-Kenney crowd.

A latecomer to the party was City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., who has publicly supported Kenney's rival State Sen. Anthony H. Williams. Jones jokingly asked Evans if he was allowed into Relish to which both men laughed and hugged.

"It's been a great event bringing people together... to move the city forward," Evans said. Of his Northwest Election Day tradition, which just started five years ago, he said: "It's getting more diverse and more inclusive."

Evans said he was working the polls earlier in the day and that voters were optimistic about Kenney.

"We feel that Jim Kenney is the person who can do it and has done it," Evans said.

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