Democrat Damon Roberts leaving ballot in 2nd District Council primary

One of the four Democrats seeking the 2nd District City Council seat said that he will ask a judge today to remove his name from the May 17 primary election ballot.

Real-estate attorney Damon Roberts, a native of Guyana and a Harvard University graduate, said that a lack of campaign contributions forced his hand.

"The hard, cold reality is, we didn't have the resources to win," Roberts said. "It was excruciatingly difficult to deal with. I honestly felt I had the best ideas."

Roberts, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat four years ago, will endorse state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson, another Democrat.

"He thought him getting behind me would give me a better chance," Johnson said of the seat, open due to the planned retirement of Council President Anna Verna at the end of the year. "I'm happy he's out. I'm grateful he's out. He ran a competitive race."

The withdrawal could tilt the race in favor of Johnson in the May 17 Democratic primary election and away from the fourth candidate, real-estate broker Barbara Capozzi. Several white candidates dropped out of the race early on, leaving Capozzi to face three African-Americans - Johnson, Roberts and community activist Tracey Gordon.

That raised speculation that Roberts and Gordon would sap votes from Johnson. Gordon said she hears that from voters in her Southwest Philly neighborhood.

"They're saying that by me being in the race, it's taking up the black vote and will make Barbara Capozzi, the white candidate, win," said Gordon, who asks voters to focus on issues, not race.

Capozzi did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

The deadline for a candidate to withdraw from the primary was March 23. Roberts said that he will seek an order today from Common Pleas Court to have his name removed from the ballot.