The paring started just days after the March 14 filing deadline, when party-backed Emilio Vazquez successfully challenged Rodnell Griffin and Walter Gnoza's paperwork. (Griffin didn't have enough signatures; the person who collected signatures for Gnoza wasn't a registered Democrat in the district, according to Vazquez.) Vazquez also claimed Tony Payton didn't have the 300 signatures necessary to run. But Payton, a 25-year-old United Communities housing counselor and Community College student, beat back that challenge. He also went after Vazquez, who was tossed from the ballot last Friday after a judge found he didn't list his Philadelphia Parking Authority ticket-writer job as a source of income.

"Vazquez decided to challenge everybody's paperwork instead of running a race on the issues," explains Payton, who says he's now backed by the Vazquez-tossed candidates. He said he wouldn't have gone after Vazquez if he hadn't gone after him first, but if "someone pokes you in the eye, you have to poke back."

Today, Vazquez will appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. "I made an honest mistake," he says, adding that he amended his paperwork to include his PPA job. "I'm going to do what I got to do to get back on. I have too many people behind me."

Responds Payton, "I hope he gets back on the ballot. I'd love for him to explain his plan for the district, but the voters need to know that change is coming. And I'm that change."

Not really, retorts Vazquez, noting that Griffin's ties run back to Rieger, and that having Griffin's backing means Payton "is going to fall into their trap."

Ah, Philly politics.