Council race gets heated

It took just two weeks for the 6th District race to evolve from silence into the typical mayhem of Philadelphia politics.

After Joan Krajewski confirmed her retirement, State Rep. Michael McGeehan became the presumptive frontrunner, with the outgoing incumbent’s blessing. When McGeehan dropped out Jan. 4 after ward-leader squabbling, the endorsement shifted to Martin Bednarek, former member of the School Reform Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment. At first, Bednarek had no competition.

That changed last week when Robert Henon, political director of IBEW Local 98, entered the race. Though it’s weeks away from petition-signature time, the first police report has been filed.

Bednarek reported to police that he received a threatening voicemail urging him to drop out. In the edited version, which made its way onto Philly.com yesterday, the caller says: “Listen, if you know what’s good for you, you just drop out of the race.”

He said he doesn’t think the competition was behind the call.

“I would hope not. We’ve been friends for a long time,” he said, adding that police returned his cell phone yesterday after efforts to trace the call. “They didn’t say much, only that it’s an ongoing investigation.”