With just 26 days until Democrats in Philadelphia decide on our mayoral nominee, it has become clear that this race has come down to two choices: Chaka Fattah and Tom Knox.  Even the Philadelphia Inquirer agrees that this is a race between Knox and Fattah! 

For me, Chaka Fattah is the clear choice in what is becoming a neck and neck race.  

I am truly inspired by Chaka Fattah's bold vision of a city government that actively works to help all residents have an opportunity in life, especially those in the shadows of prosperity.  So many problems in our city can be attributed to a single root cause...widespread poverty.  Poverty is an issue that politicians don't like to talk about, even though it has such a huge affect on all of us, whether we are rich, middle class, or poor. 

In Philadelphia, one in four people live in poverty, including 105,000 children.  Philadelphia is at the very bottom of the list of big cities when it comes to the number of college graduates.  When less that 18 pecent of those who live in Philadelphia have a college degree, what incentive does a large company have to locate here?  We need to focus on educating our residents and growing our employable workforce in order to create job growth.  A Fattah Administration will usher in a newly empowered generation of Philadelphians where every child has access to education, the cycle of poverty is reduced, and accountability and responsibility are renewed.  Only by attacking poverty will we truly solve our crime problem, stabalize our tax base, and make Philadelphia truly realize its potential as a world class city.

Tom Knox, on the other hand, is an unknown quantity.  He is willing to spend up to 15 million dollars of his own money to win this election, while the other candidates must follow strict campaign finance limits.  Knox's virtually unlimited campaign ads have helped him to go from 2% in the polls in December to the leader today.

We won't be able to match our opponent dollar for dollar.  But with your help, we can  win.

Ryan and I would like to invite you to an event at our home to meet Chaka Fattah, and to help us raise the money we will need to stop Tom Knox from buying City Hall.  I hope you can make it.  Here are the details:

Micah Mahjoubian &

Ryan Bunch

cordially invite you to attend

a reception in honor of

Mayoral Candidate

Chaka Fattah

on

Friday, April 27^th, 2007

7:30 to 9:00 PM

at their home

1215 Wood Street #1

Philadelphia, PA 19107

 Contribution: 

Gold         $500

Silver         $100

 RSVP by emailing Micah Mahjoubian

Please make checks payable to “Fattah for Mayor”