Jewel Williams' name lacked enough luster for voters

THE "LEGACY" campaign for North Philly's 197th District of the state House came up short in Tuesday's primary election for candidate Jewel Williams and her father, Sheriff Jewell Williams, who held the seat for a decade.

Jewel Williams, 27, had rejected claims by her Democratic foes that she and her father were trying to confuse voters by making them think he was seeking re-election to the seat he left in January to take his city post.

J.P. Miranda, a 26-year-old community organizer who has worked for City Council, the state Senate and Mayor Nutter, held a 458-vote lead over Williams on Wednesday with 98 percent of the vote tallied. His victory will be certified after the official count, which starts Friday morning.

Miranda said that voters "were disgusted" by what he and other Democratic candidates described as attempted political trickery.

D.A. Jones, campaign manager for Jewel Williams, last week prevented her from answering questions about her campaign, saying that she had no role in the planning. Jones said the campaign sought to capitalize on the "legacy" of the candidate's father.

The sheriff, Jones and Jewel Williams did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Steve Crum, an actor who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, will face Miranda in the Nov. 6 general election. Crum said he, too, heard speculation about the Williams campaign tactics, but "I let it go because people run their campaigns in the way that best forwards their position." n

Contact Chris Brennan at 215-854-5973 or brennac@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisBrennanDN and read his blog, PhillyClout.com.