Knox, a multimillionaire businessman now interested in next year's race for governor, refused to answer any questions about the controversy.
His campaign manager, Josh Morrow, put out a prepared statement that failed to address any specifics in the settlement agreement.
"While the [Knox for Philly] Committee disagrees with several of the Board's allegations, it believes it is in the public interest to defer to the Board's judgment and accept its conclusions in this settlement," Morrow's statement said. "The comparatively minor fine involved does not justify further litigation or cost."
The basis of the radio ads was a dispute over a 15-acre tract of mostly undeveloped land at 49th and Parkside, where the Christian Stronghold Baptist Church wanted to build a new church.
Nutter sided with neighborhood and business groups that said the land should be reserved for a profit-making business, to take advantage of other economic development in the area.
From May 10 into May 15, the day of the 2007 primary, advertisements aired on WURD, WPPZ and WRNB criticizing Nutter for fighting the church's plans. "It was as if he wanted to disrespect the church, which is a step away from disrespecting God," the ads said.
"Paid for by the Alliance for Better Christians," the ads concluded.
In fact, the "Alliance" didn't exist, and the ads were paid for by the Knox campaign, yesterday's settlement agreement disclosed.
Morrow told the Daily News yesterday that neither he nor Knox had been aware of the advertising effort.
But the Ethics Board settlement, signed by Knox, said that the advertising audio had been e-mailed to Morrow on May 6, 2007.
