PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — State Rep. Amen Brown will remain on the Democratic primary ballot for Philadelphia mayor. A judge denied the challenge to his nomination paperwork but chided him for withholding information from the public.
Judge Idee Fox agreed that Brown’s statement of financial interest was missing required information but said she would give him a chance to file an amended statement.
Attorney Kevin Greenberg, who brought the challenge, argued Brown should not be given another chance because he’d acted in bad faith. Judge Fox said bad faith was very difficult to prove — but she went on to say she had some serious concerns, noting Brown had previously filed a deficient statement and been warned about it.
“This is your second bite of the apple,” she told Brown. “There will not be a third one.”
She seemed to question what the case said about Brown as a candidate for mayor.
“The City of Philadelphia is a sophisticated city that requires someone who’s able to deal with the financial ills and difficulties of the city,” she said.
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Brown declined comment afterward, but his communications director, Malik Boyd, said he was pleased with the ruling.
“There’s some opportunities that Rep. Brown is committed to completing. None of his actions were in bad faith, and this amendment will represent that.”
Greenberg said he thought the decision was incorrect.
“At some point, there needs to be consequences for these actions,” he said.
Greenberg’s challenge to the signatures on Brown’s nominating petitions also failed.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for May 16.