Warren Bloom wants to be Philadelphia’s ‘spiritual father’

Over the past two decades, Warren Bloom Sr. calculates that he has, on average, run for public office every other year.

Those campaigns – for city commissioner, state representative, and judge of the since-abolished traffic court – have not been successful; but Bloom is facing an even more uphill battle on May 16, as one of eight Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for mayor.

“I am looking for divine intervention,” he said during an interview last month at Metro’s office. “Trust me, every candidate running for office is looking for divine intervention.”

Bloom, an associate minister at a Germantown church, will need a miracle to challenge the race’s top handful contenders – all of whom have more name recognition than him, as well as a lot more money.

He will have to convince voters to overlook a 1992 conviction for indecent assault and corrupting a minor, stemming from an incident involving a teenage girl. Bloom, who was sentenced to two years of probation, said the case was the result of a family dispute and that the victim has since died.

“A lot of times, you have to fall on the sword about something,” he told Metro. “That issue had already been reconciled years even before she died.”

If he overcomes the odds and becomes Philadelphia’s next mayor, Bloom plans to launch an aggressive public service announcement campaign to promote positive messages to counter gun violence.

“I believe the next mayor has to be like a spiritual father,” he said.

Bloom’s administration would focus on parental education, keeping schools open until after 10 p.m. in high crime neighborhoods.

“We can’t legislate morality. But, even Beyonce said, ‘If you like it, make a commitment,’” he told Metro. “I’m against children being born out of wedlock and people not taking responsibility for their actions. If you can’t put a ring on it, put a thing on it.”

Bloom opposes stop-and-frisk and believes Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has been unfairly maligned because she is a woman.

Youth and young adults would be incorporated into his cabinet, and he would prioritize that age group for his Board of Education appointments, Bloom said.

He supports breaking up the education system into elementary (K-6th grade), junior high (7-9) and high school (10-12).

Bloom also wants dedicated prayer time for students, regardless of their religion. Teacher-led prayer in public schools has been prohibited since a series of Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s.

“I believe that any healthy, rounded person in life has to be a person that’s committed to some sort of spiritual dynamic,” he said.

‘A people person’

Bloom grew up in a section of West Philadelphia known as “the bottom,” and he currently lives in the neighborhood.

Violent gangs roamed the area in those days, according to Lewis Harris Jr., who grew up with Bloom and has stayed in touch with him.

“He (Bloom) never was in a gang. I was, but he never was. He always somehow stayed out of it,” Harris told Metro. “He managed to navigate it, and even the most dangerous people liked Warren. They didn’t bother him.”

Harris, who also ran failed campaigns for traffic court judge and city commissioner, feels Bloom would be a competent mayor, surrounding himself with a circle of experts and delegating tasks.

“He’s not as stupid as people think,” he added.

After graduating from Overbrook High School in 1970, Bloom studied communications for two-and-a-half years at Cheyney University.

Bloom then started selling insurance and resettled in North Philadelphia, where he led block cleanups and became a Democratic committeeperson.

A “born-again” Christian, he became involved in Deliverance Evangelistic Church, located at 20th Street and Lehigh Avenue. That church spawned Bible Ministries Fellowship Church, where Bloom serves as a minister under Bishop Shirley A. Ross.

“He has a very good reputation working with all kinds of people,” Ross told Metro. “He’s a people person, and, once he’s in your presence, you won’t forget it.”