Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied to clipboard

Labor Leader Urges Butkovitz to Run

The president of the largest local in AFSCME District Council 33 last week sent a letter to Controller Alan Butkovitz, urging him to run for mayor.

Butkovitz, who began his third term as controller this year, has said he would consider running, but he cannot declare his candidacy without first resigning from office.

Lorenzo North, president of Local 159, which represents correctional officers and other city employees, said he felt compelled to send the letter because Butkovitz has been "100 percent behind correctional officers."

"He attends all the graduations," North said. "Correctional officers are the forgotten law enforcement officers, but he hasn't forgotten."

North also said Butkovitz had "done a great job looking out for the taxpayers of Philadelphia," from his position as controller.

North said the letter did not amount to an endorsement – the union would go through a separate process to endorse a candidate once the field has been settled.

Local 159 represent 2,500 workers, making it the largest local in DC 33, North said. DC 33 represents about 10,000 of the city's blue-collar municipal workers, the majority of whom have been without a new contract for five years.

The mayoral primary is still a year away, but with Mayor Nutter unable to run again after two terms, a large field of prospective candidates has been jockeying for support behind the scenes.

More public declarations of backing could arrive in the coming months, as candidates assess their chances and weigh the strength of potential opponents.

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.