Philadelphia Republican mayoral candidates Karen Brown and John Featherman appeared together on NBC10 @ Issue on a program that aired on May 1. The primary election is May 17.
Here are some of their answers on a few key issues:
Brown on being a Republican:
“Open and transparent government with fiscal responsibility. I have been in politics for 27 years and I know what I believed politicians should be. Unfortunately I’ve been disappointed by the outcome of some of these politicians and that’s what’s caused me to seek an office myself. I believe that we need a Republican in the mayor’s seat to work with the Republican government that we now have in the state and the only way that the people in the city are going to get that voice is if we have that.
Featherman on being a Republican:
“Supporting Republican candidates, being there over many years and not being someone who is new on the scene and has campaigned against Republicans and defeated Republicans for over 30 years as my opponent has. I don’t like the direction my party’s going because we’re putting up candidates who are not qualified for office. We have only 12.5 percent of the registered Republicans in Philadelphia. We have to do something to change that.”
Featherman On Police Commissioner Ramsey:
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“I’m satisfied with him but not his salary. He should not have gotten the bonus.”
Brown On Police Commissioner Ramsey:
“I think he was a very good commissioner but I don’t think any money should be spent to keep somebody, not in this fiscal time.”
Brown on size of city government:
“[Cut] At least half. I believe that we have too big of a government and there’s no reason for it. I believe it should be at least one-third to a half smaller. It would come from within city hall. I think we need to start at home. If I’m going to be the mayor I want to start from within. I can’t ask somebody to do something I’m not doing myself. We’re going to be losing jobs but I’ll find ways to get them employed elsewhere that the city doesn’t have to pick up the tab.
Featherman on size of city government:
“Two-thirds of the budget is health care, benefits and public safety. City hall is going to be 10 percent of the budget at most, however you call it in the budget. The answer is going to be that we’re going to have to move from municipal unions to privatization. I believe we can provide the same services at less money if we bid things out. But my opponent is pro-union, I’m not. I think that we’re going to have no more than about 10 percent fewer people, but that’s also a function of whether the municipal unions cooperate. If they do not cooperate then we will have to start layoffs and that could mean thousands of people and that will be very painful in the city, but right now our mayor is doing nothing.”
Featherman on “DROP”
“We differ because I don’t support DROP whatsoever. There are other better programs we can use, other 401K type programs.”
Brown on “DROP”
“I don’t believe that DROP should be for elected officials at all. I think they should have never been in it. I believe it’s for the firemen, the cops and the city employees.”
Brown on supporting the GOP Mayoral nominee:
“Sure I would. I believe that we need to do what’s right for the Republicans and for the people of this city.”
Featherman on supporting the GOP Mayoral nominee:
“I will absolutely not support her [Brown] under any circumstances.”
