Soft soaping Chicago Philly
Once again Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon rates front page treatment as the daily Fish-wrapper soft soaps Hizzoner.
The article titled, Phil Gordon’s trying times (Mysteriously renamed Gordon wrestles with growth, immigration in the online version.) The third time, it is often said, is the charm. Reporter Casey Newton should have gone for: Phil Gordon steps in it again.
Here’s an excerpt: Friends say Gordon would like eventually to become governor. To get there, he needs a record he can run on - and the successes of his first term alone might not be enough. The last Phoenix mayor to be elected governor was conservative Republican radio personality and author, Jack Williams in 1966. He served three terms.
If he doesn’t seek higher office, though, he will be an anomaly. His three immediate predecessors to be elected mayor - Terry Goddard, Paul Johnson and Anton “Skip” Rimsza—have sought statewide office. Goddard and Johnson each ran for governor twice before and lost. Goddard is expected to run again in 2010.
May 15, 2008 at 4:41 pm
The thought of this lightweight as governor is stomach turning. He won handily during the last mayoral election because he was able to call in big dollars from all of the contractors he’s given plums to, building rail lines, the medical school and City North, among numerous other projects–even French suppliers of the trains for the so-called rapid rail that is scheduled to move at a snail’s pace gave him a ton of dough. The money was flowing and the turnout light, meaning that all of the city employees and lobbyists who wanted to keep the status quo, turned out in full while others didn’t.
His reelection was not a mandate. City elections are traditionally low turnout affairs. He had the name ID while Steve Lory didn’t. The newspaper kept stomping for him, since he does their bidding. But mostly it was his $ million + war chest and his numerous employees–city workers, and all of the unions: Phoenix police, firefighters, teachers….
May 15, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Did you see those lips on the front page photo of this guy? He’s got quite an advanced case of trout mouth!
May 16, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Let’s hope someone has the good sense to bench him.