Kenney targets poverty at fundraiser
Kenney, Bailey met with Gov. Wolf and area homeless at luncheon
AFTER A RESOUNDING win in the Democratic mayoral primary, Jim Kenney mingled with Gov. Wolf, Republican challenger Melissa Murray Bailey and area homeless.
Kenney joined a mishmash of political elites and poverty-stricken locals at a luncheon and fundraiser at Broad Street Ministry, in Center City. The luncheon, which was free to attend, was Kenney's and Bailey's first postprimary election event.
BSM board co-chairman Richard Keaveney praised Kenney for celebrating his primary victory with a fundraiser instead of a ritzy lunch.
"You have made a principled choice to be here among the people," Keaveney said.
Kenney shared a table with Wolf and Bailey, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination for mayor. Donations made during the event will support BSM's Hospitality Collaborative, a meal and care provider.
"I'm happy to have changed the paradigm of postelection lunches from the Palm to here," Kenney said. He noted that he and Bailey were the only candidates to attend a campaign forum on poverty at BSM. At that forum, moderator Sister Mary Scullion - president and executive director of Project HOME, a nonprofit focused on helping the homeless - harshly criticized the absent candidates.
"You don't want to make a Sister of Mercy mad," Kenney said during yesterday's luncheon.
He referenced his parents and Jesuit education at St. Joseph's Preparatory School for teaching him "to be a person for others."
"You're never truly happy unless you're in service to others," Kenney said.
Bailey also spoke to the crowd gathered at the luncheon to fend off doubt of her viability as a candidate.
"The reason I'm here is because I put my hand up, of my own volition, because this is something our city needs," she said, adding, "I'm not a sacrificial lamb."
Various guests attended the event to learn more about the candidates, and to sample some of the free food.
David Carter, a registered nurse at Firststaff Nursing Services in Bala Cynwyd, voted for state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams in the Democratic primary, and is now undecided. He came to the event to learn more about Bailey, and find a "decisive reason to vote for someone."
Another attendee, Dan Sinnott, is homeless and living at the Brotherhood Mission. He voted for Kenney, despite some reservations.
"I wanted to vote for myself, but I couldn't find the f---ing lever so I voted for [Kenney] instead," he said.
Sinnott said he had been previously incarcerated on assault charges, and is looking for a mayor to broaden access to economic success.
"You're supposed to share [money] and not hoard it," he said.
Democratic City Council at-large candidate Helen Gym, who won her primary race last night, also attended the event, as did Democratic state Rep. Brian Sims, the first openly gay state legislator in Pennsylvania history.
The luncheon was Kenney's only public event of the day, though he did attend private functions later on.
