NAACP Official Says He'll Challenge Fattah In '06 Unless Congressman Ends Talk Of Phili Mayoral Bid

• Originally published in The Frontrunner February 21, 2005 

Copyright 2005 Bulletin News Network, Inc. 

The Philadelphia Inquirer (2/21, Fitzgerald) reports, "A bubbling feud over political control in Northwest Philadelphia has produced a new ripple in the pool of intrigue that already is the 2007 mayoral race: a possible strike at powerful U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.)

. Philadelphia NAACP president J. Whyatt Mondesire says he 'absolutely will' run against Fattah in next year's Democratic House primary unless Fattah renounces his interest in exploring a campaign for mayor. 'He's a 300-pound gorilla in a small cage, playing games for his own agenda,' Mondesire said." The Inquirer notes, "Because Fattah is well-known and has a disciplined political organization, Mondesire and others believe that his interest in the 2007 race has frozen the organizing efforts of other serious black candidates for mayor, including State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) and Councilman Michael Nutter."