Michael Nutter

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Michael Nutter bigraphy, stories - American mayor

Michael Nutter : biography

June 29, 1957 –

Michael Anthony Nutter (born June 29, 1957) is the 98th and current Mayor of Philadelphia. He is the third African-American to hold the position. Elected on November 6, 2007, he was re-elected to a second term on November 8, 2011. He is a previous member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 4th district, and has served as the 52nd Ward Democratic Leader since 1990.

Early life and education

Nutter (known affectionately to childhood friends as "Da Nutta") grew up in West Philadelphia. He attended elementary school at Transfiguration of Our Lord Catholic Elementary School and later St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in North Philadelphia. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

Mayor of Philadelphia

Elections

Nutter resigned from the City Council in 2006 in order to focus on running for Mayor the following year; he later resigned as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Board in April 2007. Nutter quickly moved to position himself as a reformer. On April 27, 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer endorsed Nutter for Mayor, Nutter was also endorsed by the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia magazine, Northeast Times, Philadelphia City Paper, Philadelphia Weekly, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Philly for Change, the Penn Democrats, and Clean Water Action.

Nutter won the Democratic primary election on May 15, winning 37% of the vote in a crowded election of four other people;, "Committee of Seventy", June 18, 2007, accessed August 6, 2011. He then went on to win the general election on November 6, 2007 with 83% of the vote against opponent Al Taubenberger, who won 13%.

Nutter announced that he would run for reelection on December 22, 2010., "CBS Philadelphia", December 22, 2010, accessed August 5, 2011. He easily won the primary election against Milton Street, getting 76% of the vote.Gelbart, Marcia. , "Philly.com", May 18, 2011, accessed August 5, 2011. Despite the lopsided victory, Street capturing 24% of the Democratic vote astonished many and served to diminish Nutter.Gelbart, Marcia. , "Philly.com", May 18, 2011, accessed August 25, 2011. He defeated two candidates in the general election of November 2011, garnering over 70% of the vote on a voter turnout of around 18%.

Philadelphia City Council

Elections

Nutter, then-leader of the 52nd ward of Philadelphia, initially challenged Democratic incumbent Ann Land for a seat on the Philadelphia City Council in 1987. Though ultimately unsuccessful in his initial bid, Nutter defeated Land in a rematch four years later. His district included Wynnefield, Overbrook, Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls and parts of North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, and Mount Airy.

In February 2003, Nutter was elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Board at the urging of former Senator, Vincent Fumo.

Tenure

In June 2002, Nutter introduced a measure requiring college students under 23 years old to register their address, license plate, car registration and insurance with their school, which would then put a sticker on that car as a "student" car, subjecting the student to triple the usual fines for traffic or parking tickets or any other offense. The ordinance also forced students in off-campus housing to inform their landlords of their student status.O’Neill, James M. (September 16, 2002). "Students at St. Joseph’s University face new law". The Philadelphia Inquirer

In September 2004, Nutter introduced legislation creating an independent Ethics Board; in addition, he proposed changes to the City’s Ethics Code to provide for routine training and education of all City officers and employees, the issuance of advisory opinions, the adjudication of violations, and the imposition of civil fines. These measures were adopted at the end of 2005. On May 16, 2006, voters approved the Ethics Board ballot question with 81% voting to approve it, and was installed November 27, 2006.