Over fried flounder, queries for Kenney

JIM KENNEY'S working on a platter of fried flounder, slaw and a prodigious pile of french fries.

I note there's nothing green, but lots of fried stuff.

"It's the only way I like flounder," he says.

I don't know. That's what he says.

He quickly adds that every morning he mixes up some GNC SuperFoods powder packed with antioxidants, energy boost and "all the vegetables you need."

I think, ah, dietary CYA, perfect for pols on the go.

We're lunching at the counter of Pearl's Oyster Bar in Reading Terminal Market (his choice) to talk about his campaign for mayor, which started late and which some see as a tad undernourished.

So, you know, nutritional chat seems appropriate.

Yes, Kenney, a longtime at-large City Council member who stepped down to run for mayor Jan. 29, has experience and a progressive record placing him in the top tier of a crowded field for the Democratic primary May 19.

Yet his candidacy comes with questions.

Did he get in too late? Can he raise money? Is he too hotheaded? Is he tied to Vince Fumo? And can he beat Philly's "racial math"?

The 56-year-old South Philly native offers answers.

In too late?

"No, it's fun because now it's a sprint," he says.

Kenney jumped in after former city solicitor Ken Trujillo bowed out for family reasons, and he picked up a cache of Trujillo aides and advisers, some of whom also worked on campaigns for President Obama and Gov. Wolf.

Money?

"I'm raising money every day, and at a pretty good clip."

It doesn't hurt that he's aligned with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 chief John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, whose union, according to Inky reporting, hands out more dough than any interest in the state, $25.6 million since 2000 - more than the trial lawyers, teachers unions or gas drillers.

Kenney calls Doc a political ally who "moves things forward."

Doc, in an email, says: "Philadelphia's labor community is working through a very deliberate process in evaluating the mayoral candidates. This process prioritizes policy over politics. We're taking our time in order to get it right. That being said, it's fair to say that of all the candidates, Jim Kenney is the one who's grading out higher than all the rest when it comes to the issues of greatest importance to working people."

So there's that.

But is Kenney too quick-tempered, too hotheaded?

Nope, he says, just "passionate" about public service and issues including poverty, education, immigration, LGBT rights and decriminalizing marijuana.

Tied to Fumo?

"I worked for him 24 years ago. I haven't spoken to him in seven . . . any suggested influence is completely exaggerated."

And the "racial math" that says that if there's a well-funded African-American (Anthony Williams) and two whites (Kenney, Lynne Abraham), the African-American wins?

"I think people are more intelligent than pundits give them credit for. I spent 23 years serving the entire city. I'm taking the race to every neighborhood. I'm more modern, more progressive" than other contenders.

Other declared candidates are Nelson Diaz, Doug Oliver, Milton Street and Keith Goodman.

When I ask Kenney what he would push most as mayor, he says moving "the poverty needle in the down direction" and pre-K education.

He'd go at the former with a blue-collar-jobs program, especially at the port. For the latter, he'd look to raise $50 million from foundations, corporations and universities to put 28,000 to 30,000 kids into pre-K.

Seeming to channel Obama, he says, "Unless we start embracing the fact all kids - African-American, Hispanic, white - are our kids and deserve a good education, we're going to miss the boat."

Kenney's a classic neighborhood guy: oldest of four raised in a rowhouse; delivered papers, washed dishes; St. Joe's Prep, then La Salle; dad was a firefighter, mom worked in the advertising department of the Daily News and Inquirer.

And the neighborhood's still in him.

Before we part, he enthusiastically shows me a little length of twine that he says he's showing everyone. It's a piece of the net cut down after South Philly's Neumann-Goretti girls won the Catholic League b-ball championship last week.

"My girls," the team, gave it to him. Nice to be with a winner.

Oh, and he notes that he ate only five fries.

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