Greenlee draws top at-large ballot position in Philadelphia City Council primary

City Councilman William K. Greenlee, considered potentially at risk in this year's Democratic primary, went a long way Wednesday toward keeping his job through sheer luck - he drew the No. 1 ballot position.

In a cast of 20 Democratic candidates for at-large Council seats, being first on the ballot can mean a lot.

"The biggest thing is the folks who want to find me will find me," Greenlee said outside Courtroom 676 in City Hall, where three judges acting as the city Board of Elections presided over the drawings. "There's no getting lost on the ballot."

Greenlee, known to all as Bill, goes by William K. on the ballot, in part to avoid confusion with fellow at-large Councilman Bill Green. He received a stream of congratulatory hugs from political insiders after his draw.

Green was not as lucky. He drew the No. 11 position.

Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. was the least lucky of all. After dipping his hand into the Horn & Hardart coffee can used in every city election, he extracted a little gray ball that earned him the lowest ballot spot in the at-large Council race - No. 20.

"This is probably, in an at-large race with a large field, one of the most important days in the election," said Goode. "But it's not the most important day, and it's not the last day."

At times, Wednesday's ritual assumed the feel of a boxing match, with spectators oohing and aahing, and some would-be winners shouting gleefully.

"Hallelujah!" shouted a supporter of City Commission candidate Warren Bloom, who beat six Democratic rivals for the top spot. "Do the right thing! Vote for Bloom in the spring!" he yelled to laughs as he left the room.

A lot, of course, goes into winning a Council or city commissioners seat or election as register of wills, sheriff, or Traffic Court or Common Pleas Court judge - among the positions up for grabs this year.

Name recognition counts. So do fund-raising and endorsements, and the ability to have election day backers who can distribute sample ballots and help get voters to the polls - and offer a persuasive opinion on what to do once they get there.

But that isn't to say a good ballot position is a bad thing.

"I have a real chance to win, especially after God blessed me with that ballot position today," said Isaiah Thomas, who drew the No. 2 spot in the Democratic at-large race, a big boost to the 26-year-old former charter school dean and basketball coach.

Spots No. 3 and 4 also went to political newcomers, Ralanda King and Michael Bell, possibly helping their bids.

No. 5 went to Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown. Four years ago, she picked No. 17 of 19 possible spots, which didn't help, but she went on to garner the fifth-most votes.

The longtime incumbent in another multicandidate race drew spot No. 7 of 7, but City Commissioner Margaret Tartaglione merely shrugged.

"No matter what number, I'll win," she said.

Mayor Nutter also came out on bottom, so to speak, drawing a spot that will mean T. Milton Street Sr.'s name will be listed above his.

Said Nutter: "I do have full confidence the voters will be able to find my name on the ballot."

For more about Wednesday's ballot drawings, go to www.heardinthehall.com