Council Overrides Mayor on “Resign to Run” Repeal

Is this a low point for Mayor Nutter's power with council?
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The Daily News reports: “City Council overrode a veto from Mayor Nutter yesterday that clears the way for an elected official to seek another public office without resigning from his existing one. … As it stands, anyone holding elected office in city government must resign before seeking a different office at the city, state or federal level. Council unanimously reversed the mayor’s veto and the decision now goes before the voters on the May 20 ballot.”

The Inquirer suggests the unanimous rebuff is a low point for the mayor’s power:

Council’s willingness to rebuff Nutter – and his dearth of dependable votes in the chamber where he once served – has been apparent for some time.

In comments from the Council floor, Councilman Jim Kenney recalled one of his bills passing by 16-0 during the reign of Nutter’s predecessor, Mayor John F. Street.

Street vetoed the bill, and by the time Kenney called for an override, Street had peeled off enough support to sustain the veto. It takes two-thirds of Council, or 12 votes when the chamber has its full complement of 17 members, to override a veto.

The question implicit in Kenney’s parable was: Why bother with a veto if you don’t have the support?

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