Mayor Nutter and Karen Brown spar in Fox29 debate

Mayor Nutter and Karen Brown, the Republican nominee for mayor, traded shots this afternoon in what is expected to be the only debate before the Nov. 8 general election. Nutter pinpointed inaccurate claims by Brown about his administration, repeatedly saying she was "confused." Brown shrugged off Nutter's more polished approach to the discussion, calling him a "true politician" several times while questioning whether he could be trusted.

Thomas Drayton of Fox29 struggled at times to keep order as the two candidates clashed, interrupted answers and spoke over each other. Brown went on the attack, accusing Nutter of having just one Police Academy class during his first term. Nutter said the second class is under way with a third about to start.

Brown also claimed Nutter raised the city's Business Privilege Tax when his administration has really stopped planned reduction in the levy. Brown then complained that Nutter's administration would not give her access to data to see if that was true. "Anyone can fudge numbers," she added.

The candidates were allowed to ask one question. Nutter asked why Brown called herself "pro-union" citing an interview where she said she would eliminate the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers in the Philadelphia School District. Brown said she had been misquoted.

Brown countered with Nutter's own words from his inauguration speech, when he said he would reduce the homicide rate in the city by 30-50 percent. Nutter said the rate is down 22 percent but more work remains to be done. She insisted the number was 18 percent.

The debate continues when the cameras were turned off, with Brown pushing Nutter for more debates and him bringing up her mistakes. "You had a few things wrong," he said. "It happens."

Brown, a former Democratic City Committewoman, continued to say that Nutter is a politician who won't take responsibility for mistakes. "I voted for the man," she said. "I believed in him and I am one of the people who are very angry and think we can't trust him."

The hour-long debate will be aired Friday at 10:30 pm.