The millennial PAC that’s tracking the mayor’s race will announce 40-year-old candidate Doug Oliver as their pick, Billy Penn has learned.
The news comes after a pair of weekend media endorsements made headlines — The Inquirer “narrowly” threw its weight behind Anthony Williams, and Philadelphia Magazine chose Jim Kenney as their man. Williams and Kenney have each announced significant support from traditional Democratic unions.
“Doug Oliver is the new leader that a dynamic city like Philadelphia needs: energetic, optimistic and forward-thinking,” Philly Set Go’s release says, noting that the candidate is “unburdened by obligations to the Philadelphia political establishment, including the traditional powerhouse of organized labor.”
Oliver was thrilled, per another release.
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“When you run an upstart campaign you quickly realize that it’s very much like being at a party that no one invited you to attend,” he said. “Much like Philly Set Go you have to be a bit disruptive, but not disrespectful to show independence to the status quo.”
Matthew Fontana, the vice chairman of Philly Set Go, said after the PAC evaluated the candidates “and polling more than 400 millennials and partners, Doug Oliver was overwhelmingly selected as our choice for Mayor.”