The coach takes a shot at Council

THE FIRST TIME he ran for City Council at-large, in 2011 when he was 26, Isaiah Thomas introduced himself to an old head committeeman who smiled and said, "You don't have a snowball's chance of winning."

With a rueful smile, Thomas says recently over lunch at a pub, "He knew what I didn't know."

The seasoned citizen knew you need more than good looks, good education, good parents, good intentions and earnest volunteers.

You need endorsements and more than a pitiful 10 grand.

Thomas won 31,515 votes citywide, good enough for eighth place, but he needed to be in the Top 5. Not a bad showing for someone I would call wet behind the ears, I say. Thomas says he was a "theoretical practitioner" of politics, "learning and running at the same time."

Now he's ba-ack and he says he knows, and has, what it takes to win, in addition to the will.

This time he's got the blessing of City Controller (and ward leader) Alan Butkovitz, among others, and the bucks and bodies of the hospital workers' union, among others.

"Isaiah is a young teacher who is passionately involved with the lives of his students," says Butkovitz.

Thomas worked for Brendan Boyle's underdog, but successful, congressional campaign and Boyle supports Thomas, calling him "exactly the kind of smart, hardworking young guy" we need in office. Brendan's brother, state Rep. Kevin Boyle, seconds that emotion, along with Democratic fundraiser Alan Kessler.

Henry Nicholas, head of National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees 1199C, says, "He's our educational candidate."

Thomas works at Sankofa Freedom Academy, a six-year-old K-12 charter in Frankford where he is a teacher, associate dean and athletic director. He's also an adjunct teacher at Lincoln University and president of the Public League Basketball Coaches Association. (He is not related to NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, but jokes "it would be great to. I could raise more money that way.")

His favorite role, he says, is coach.

He likes it better than teaching because while both involve mentoring and educating, "The coach travels with you, spends a lot of time with you, knows what's happening in your home," Thomas says. "A teacher can't do that with every student."

His Top 3 issues are education, jobs and public safety. Under public safety he is "100 percent opposed" to stop and frisk.

"I've been a victim. I've been in the back of a police car."

In 2009, he was driving a girlfriend on Broad around 66th in a 2002 Cadillac that was a graduation present. Pulled over, he asked the cops what he did wrong and one growled, "We're asking the questions," ordered him out of the car and demanded to know if he had drugs or guns.

After they ran his name and registration they let him go without apology or explanation.

I can guess why. He was a 25-year-old in a Caddy, but that's a bad reason. Thomas wants a civilian review board with teeth. So do I. It's overdue.

A "simple, practical person," he says he's not "part of the police brow-beating going on now," but says people have to "feel comfortable with police."

Thomas was one of 10 children raised in East Oak Lane. His mother, Veronica, is president of the deaconess board of Triumph Baptist Church and his father, Barry, is a retired Philadelphia schoolteacher and football coach.

"If I work hard and do things the right way, there is nothing I can't accomplish," his parents taught him and that's what he is teaching his 2-year-old son.

Speaking of the right way, I ask why he and his son's mother, with whom he lives, aren't married. It's kind of a rude question, but it's my job. He answers without anger or evasion.

They put the wedding on hold until after the election, he says, for reasons of time for campaigning and money.

From the right angle, I say, he resembles actor Don Cheadle. He laughs, tells me his close friends tease him about it.

One of them is his finance chairman, Chris Woods, who says he's raised more than $80,000 so far and expects another $100,000 before election day.

The two go back to when they shot hoops together as kids.

Did Thomas have game?

"He was not the biggest or fastest or strongest," Woods says, "but he had the will to win."

In the at-large Council race, finishing fifth is a win.

The coach would be a good fit.

Phone: 215-854-5977

On Twitter: @StuBykofsky

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