Who is Will Mega?
Who actually is challenging long time Democratic State Representative Louise Williams Bishop in West Philadelphia's 192nd District?
A man calling himself "Will Mega" says he has the required number of voter signatures to be listed on the May 18th Primary Election ballot.
However, on that same form next to where a bona fide notary public has to attest to the candidate's signature, the would-be candidate has signed as his legal name: "Hiram Will Mega Ashante."
Getting a little confused?
Don't worry—this saga is just getting started.
This Monday (March 29), Commonwealth Court will be asked to determine if "Mr. Mega," "Mr. Ashante" or a man born"William Alexander Collins" will, in fact, be allowed to remain on the ballot in the 192nd District's Democratic Primary Election.
That's because a voter in that district. Jimmy Cade (no doubt about his name) has filed suit against the candidate who calls himself "Will Mega."
According to Cade's suit, the multiple names appearing on Mega's nominating petitions and his history of changing his name at least three times since 2002 constitutes an act of "falsifying his voter registration form and therefore (he) committed perjury."
In addition, Cade's suit alleges that since the candidate listed being a paid employee of a political action committee known as "Friends of Will Mega" when in actuality no such PAC has filed the requisite fundraising reports with state officials, his candidacy should be disallowed by the Commonwealth Court.
Cade's suit, filed by Center City attorney David Senoff, claims that these defects in Mega's nominating petitions are rife with "irregularities" and are the result of "bad faith conduct and false statements with the intent to deceive" the voters.
The dizzying transmutations of Mega's name changes picks up speed after his brief appearance in 2000 on the one-time reality TV show "Big Brother," where he appeared as a contestant under the name "Will Collins."
Born Williams Collins IV, Aug. 14, 1972, he also was known as Hiram Ashantee about the same time he appeared on television. Under "Ashantee" he joined the New Black Panther Party and often referred to himself as the "right hand man" to Khalid Abdul Muhammad, then the leader of the New Black Panthers.
Switching to mainstream politics in 2003, he entered the November General Election race for an at-large city council seat as an independent. Running under the "Education Party" ticket. Mega attracted very few votes as most of the attention that year was concentrated on the second epic showdown for mayor between Democrat incumbent John Street and Republican Sam Katz.
Three years later in September 2006 he was issued a Pennsylvania driver's license under the name "Hiram Kasai Ashantee" even as he was paid that same week by Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann under the name "Will Mega."
Less than a year later, the suit alleges, in March 2007 he changed his name on his voter registration from first name: "Hiram Willme" to "Hiram" and his middle name was changed to "Will Mega" with his last name remaining "Ashantee."
And in the following year as a staff member to freshman Democratic Representative Kenyatta Johnson, he was paid as "Hiram K. Ashantee."
Apparently, still not settled on what name to use, earlier this year he began circulating petitions to run in the 192nd district under the name "Will Mega." And while his current campaign literature identifies it was paid for by "Friends of Will Mega," there is no campaign committee registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State as of March 1, 2010 under that title.
However, there is a committee registered with the state under the title, "Friends of Hiram "Will Mega" Ashantee."
Will Mega’s response to the FreedomQuest
For over ten (10) years, I have been known in my community and throughout the country as ‘WILL MEGA’ a name which I announced to the world on a nationally broadcasted CBS television show. At the same time, I changed my name to Hiram Will Mega Ashantee, which I had the legal right and authority to do.
Despite all of my well intentioned work in the (Philadelphia) community, it is troubling to me that a meritless challenge would be leveled at me based upon the name I choose to use in a political campaign. I am saddened that my political opponents choose to waste judicial resources with their outlandish claims regarding my name.
I have complied with the laws of the Commonwealth and am certain that I will be absolved of any wrongdoing with regard to my nomination petition.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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