Mayor Nutter Endorses City Council Candidate From Outside His Party

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has endorsed four city council candidates, including an independent candidate running for one of seven at-large seats. The independent has a shot at unseating one of the Republican incumbents.

Mayor Nutter endorsed the two incumbent at-large Democrats and one of the three Democrats running for the first time, but he also endorsed his former bike-share guru, Andrew Stober, who's running as an independent.

"Andrew brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. He'll be one of the first or possibly only city council members who's ever managed a department."

There are seven at-large seats, but no party can run more than five candidates so, even with the Democrats' registration edge, two of the seats have been occupied by Republicans for decades.

Stober threatens to upset that math. He's raised more money than the Republican incumbents and has won other Democratic endorsements.

Coming out to support a historic independent candidacy sends a really strong message to Democratic voters.

The Republican incumbents also face challenges from within their own party's five-candidate ticket.