Vince Fumo endorses ... not Jim Kenney

FORMER STATE SEN. Vince Fumo went on Facebook yesterday morning and weighed in on the mayor's race. Sort of.

Fumo shared a NewsWorks story about the "four billionaires" supporting state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams and wrote that he'd choose their candidate over one backed by labor leader John Dougherty (who is throwing his money behind ex-Fumo protege and former City Councilman Jim Kenney).

"Either those guys or Johnnie doc! I take anyone other than dougherty!" Fumo wrote.

The four billionaires cited by NewsWorks are the pro-school-choice Susquehanna International Group trio funding Williams ads, and Gerry Lenfest - owner of the Daily News, the Inquirer and Philly.com - who has contributed money to Williams. (The Inquirer endorsed Williams; the Daily News endorsed Kenney.)

We called Fumo to see if his Facebook status meant that he is endorsing Williams.

"No, I'm just saying you can't criticize one without recognizing the other," Fumo said. "I've said consistently that I don't think the city should be run by Johnny Dougherty."

Kenney has said that Dougherty would not have any undue influence on his administration.

So, would Fumo prefer one of the other candidates? Williams? Former District Attorney Lynne Abraham? Former Common Pleas Judge Nelson Diaz? Former Philadelphia Gas Works executive Doug Oliver? Perhaps Milton Street, who, like Fumo, did time in prison and the state Senate?

"I'm not going to comment on that. I will be voting for somebody," said Fumo, still on probation for fraud and corruption charges. "I'm not endorsing anybody. I've been trying to stay out of this race as much as I can."

Then, the Prince of Darkness asked a question: "Which is more dangerous to the city? Guys who want charter schools? Or Dougherty?"

And we'll leave it at that.

- Philly.com's Ryan Briggs

contributed to this report.