The 30th Ward recommendations are as follows:
2024 PRIMARY ELECTION
President of the United States: Joseph Biden (#1) has quite a track record from his first term. 11 million jobs created since 2021; 750,000 new manufacturing jobs; near record low unemployment for minority groups; infrastructure investments in all 50 states, D.C., territories and tribal nations; confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and federal judges of diverse backgrounds; strengthened NATO; rallied world support for Ukraine; student debt relief. Vote for Biden in April and do it again in November!
US Senator: Robert Casey Jr. (#3) - Senator Casey is running for a 4th term in the US Senate. Has advocated for anti-fentanyl initiatives and substance abuse treatment programs, infrastructure/economic development funding, veterans’ health programs and child nutrition funding that have advanced in the senate. Has secured over $172 million for 142 community projects. He has been an advocate for affordable healthcare, increased funding for PA schools and universities, and workers’ rights and fair wages. He was the prime Senate sponsor of landmark legislation for individuals with disabilities. His re-election is crucial to maintaining the Democratic majority in the Senate.
Attorney General of Pennsylvania: Joe Khan (#6) worked in the DA’s office of Philadelphia prosecuting sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. Ten years as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of PA, leading City Hall corruption probes in Allentown and Reading. Most recently served as Solicitor for Bucks County. Khan's priorities include combating gun violence, protecting voting rights, and advocating for criminal justice reform.
Auditor General: Mark Pinsley (#10) The chief fiscal officer for PA, performing financial and performance audits to ensure appropriate use of public funds and to determine program efficiency and effectiveness. Brings experience to this role, having served in a similar capacity as Lehigh County Controller since 2020. Pinsley has an MBA and was a business owner before entering politics.
State Treasurer: Ryan Bizzarro (#11) has been a member of the PA House since 2013, serving in leadership; would work to maintain the state’s credit rating; reform the unclaimed property system, returning billions of dollars to PA residents and improve financial literacy in PA.
Representative in Congress, 3rd District: Dwight Evans (#13) Throughout his career has been a vocal advocate for underserved communities, championing policies to address poverty, develop affordable housing, improve our education system and create economic opportunities for all. Has secured $36 million in community grants and returned $16.8 million to constituents from agencies like Social Security, Medicare, VA, IRS and is a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.
Senator in the General Assembly, 1st District: Nikil Saval (#15) is running unopposed.
Representative in the General Assembly, 182nd District: Ben Waxman (#16) serves on the Appropriations, Commerce, Finance, and State Government committees. An advocate for public transit funding and successful in pushing for dollars from Harrisburg for the district.
Representative in the General Assembly, 186th District: Jordan Harris (#16) is part of PA House Leadership and the Majority Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. After years of effort, recently secured over a million dollars of state funding for renovation and refurbishment of the Grays Ferry Triangles.
Delegate to the Democratic National Convention: Vote for all.
Ballot Question: VOTE YES to require the City to devise a system to help registered community organizations pay for the costs of defending against lawsuits, should they be brought against them because of their legal participation in the zoning process.
PREVIOUS ELECTIONS
2023 GENERAL ELECTION
Justice of the PA Supreme Court (highest appellate court in the state, vote for 1): Judge Daniel McCaffery (#101) - PA Superior Court judge since 2020; Court of Common Pleas judge for 6 years; prosecutor and civil trial attorney for 22 years; from Philadelphia; “highly recommended” by the PA and Philadelphia Bar Associations. It is critical to elect another Democrat to the PA Supreme Court given the role the court plays on issues like voting rights, reproductive rights, education funding, etc. Electing McCaffery will give us a larger majority for when three of the court’s Democratic justices are up for retention in 2025.
Judge of the Superior Court (responsible for appeals in criminal and most civil cases and matters involving children and families, vote for 2): Jill Beck (#102) - a civil litigator representing abused/neglected children; law clerk in PA Superior and Supreme courts. Judge Timika Lane (#103) - Court of Common Pleas judge for 6 years; previously was in private practice and a public defender. Both candidates are “highly recommended” by the PA Bar Association and their county bar associations.
Judge of the Commonwealth Court (appeals involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies, vote for 1): Judge Matt Wolf (#104) - Phila. Municipal Court judge since 2018; Supervising Civil Judge since 2020; plaintiff’s litigation counsel often in employment and civil rights cases for 20 years; “recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the general trial court for civil and criminal matters, vote for up to 13). Ratings from the Philadelphia Bar Association. Natasha Taylor-Smith (#105) - 30 years in the public and federal defenders’ offices; criminal, family, and personal injury law in her own firm; “highly recommended”. Judge Tamika Washington (#106) - judge in the Criminal Trial Division since 2022; worked in civil rights, real estate, and estate law; “recommended.” Samantha Williams (#107) - advocated for victims of crime in the DA’s office; worked for City Council writing laws to address gaps/disparities in the legal system and collaborating with various City agencies; “recommended.” Kay Yu (#108) - past chair of the Human Relations Commission; head of voter protection for PA Dems and Biden campaign; personal injury, employee benefits, ERISA, civil RICO; “highly recommended.” Judge John Padova (#109) - twice appointed Court of Common Pleas judge; 30 years’ experience as a trial attorney in catastrophic injury claims, discrimination, disability, workers compensation; “highly recommended.” Chesley Lightsey (#110) - 17 years in the DA’s office specializing in crimes against women and children; was Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division and Chief of the Homicide and Non-Fatal Shooting unit; “highly recommended.” Judge Brian McLaughlin (#111) - judge in Family Court since 2022; 25 years of courtroom experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney (criminal, civil and dependency law); “recommended.” Damaris Garcia (#112) - 20 years serving as both a plaintiff and defense attorney; “recommended.” Caroline Turner (#113) born abroad, moved to the US as an adult and worked as a nurse before becoming a lawyer. Worked as a public defender and medical malpractice trial attorney; “recommended.” Jessica Brown (#114) - public defender for 6 years, US Department of Labor, prosecuting companies whose employees worked in unsafe conditions, also worked as union lawyer; “recommended.” When three judges decided not to seek retention, Democratic City Committee selected judges to run: Judge James Eisenhower (#115), Elvin Ross (#116), and Raj Sandher (#117).
Judge of the Municipal Court (handles criminal offenses with sentences of <5 years, small claims and landlord-tenant, vote for 2): Ratings from the Philadelphia Bar Association. Barbara Thomson (#118) - worked in Manhattan DA’s office and with large city governments to ensure legality of public policies; arbitrator for Philadelphia’s Compulsory Arbitration Center; court-appointed attorney in Municipal Court; “recommended.” Colleen McIntyre Osborne (#119) - prosecutor for 10+ years representing both victims and accused, focusing on crimes against women and children; “recommended.”
Mayor: Cherelle Parker (#120) has been involved in local politics since she was in high school, interning with Councilperson Marian Tasco and eventually working on Tasco’s staff after college. Served 10 years in the PA State House and 6 years representing Northwest Philadelphia on City Council. As mayor Parker has said she will work to put people on a path to self-sufficiency through skilled workforce development, home ownership, and neighborhood stabilization. She’ll focus on schools, parks, rec centers, libraries, infrastructure, and capital improvements. She speaks often of her dedication to building coalitions among people and groups who historically have clashed (like retaining successful programs from previous administrations like Rebuild and Neighborhood Preservation). She wants a dual focus on what matters to each neighborhood and the city as a whole. She will hire 300 more police officers to walk/bike their beats, rehire retired police to fill administrative positions and invest in programs for at-risk youth. Committed to quality-of-life issues, she’ll do things like fix broken streetlights and remove graffiti. She has committed to zero tolerance for misuse or abuse of authority. Will also work to improve conditions for small businesses in the city and promote a cleaner and greener urban environment.
City Commissioner (pick up to 2): Omar Sabir (#121) and Lisa Deeley (#122) are running unopposed. Both are incumbents and have admirably run elections in Philadelphia during the Covid pandemic and as democracy has been under assault.
City Controller (monitors City finances): Christy Brady (#123) has worked in the Controller’s office for almost 30 years in a variety of capacities, most recently as the acting Controller, following Rebecca Rhynhart’s resignation last year. She will continue the effective operation of the office.
Register of Wills: John Sabatina (#124), an attorney with over 30 years of experience who also has managerial experience from running a small law firm and serving as an army sergeant commanding a platoon. Priorities include updating processes so that records are digitized immediately and allocating money to digitize the records and archives going back to the 1700s (some of which are historically significant).
Sheriff: Rochelle Bilal (#125) has served as sheriff since 2020. In the last 3 years there have been 6 major scandals (e.g., questionable personnel actions, over 200 missing guns, diversion of hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to hire more uniformed staff to fund pay raises for executives and office workers).
City Council at Large (vote for up to 5): Isaiah Thomas (#126) - has served on City Council for the last 4 years; Chair of the Streets Committee and Vice Chair of the Children and Youth Committee; has passed legislation addressing gun violence, providing pandemic relief, and making city government more transparent. Katherine Gilmore Richardson (#127) - on City Council for the last 4 years; passed legislation to bolster transparency/accountability in city government, crack down on nuisance businesses; connecting job seekers with training opportunities by creating the Apprenticeship Guidebook. Rue Landau (#128) - worked as a housing activist, pushing for affordable housing in Kensington and as an attorney with Community Legal Services; served as director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and the Fair Housing Commission, pushing for community engagement and economic opportunity. Nina Ahmad (#129) who, as an immigrant and a scientist, will bring a unique perspective to City Council; established the Office of Public Engagement under Mayor Kenney; priorities include combating gun violence, women’s issues, and public health. Jim Harrity (#130) is an incumbent, having been appointed to City Council in 2022; previously served as an Auditor in the City Controller’s Office and as Political Director of the PA Democratic Party. Harrity lives in Kensington and will focus on common sense solutions to the opioid epidemic in Philadelphia.
City Council 2nd District: Kenyatta Johnson (#131) running unopposed; 3-term incumbent with appreciation for specific issues in our ward.
Ballot Question: VOTE NO to Amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create an Office for People with Disabilities. This office already exists, having been created by the Mayor. Adding it to the Home Rule Charter would protect it from elimination, but could also hamstring a future Mayor who wishes to organize their administration differently and might wish to fold these responsibilities into a different agency.
Judicial Retention: The ballot lists judges seeking retention for an additional 10-year term. Vote NO on Victor Stabile (Superior Court), Anne Marie B. Coyle (Court of Common Pleas), David C. Shuter (Municipal Court), and Marissa Brumbach (Municipal Court).
Vote YES for all other judges.
2023 PRIMARY ELECTION
Justice of the PA Supreme Court (highest appellate court in the state, vote for 1): Judge Daniel McCaffery (#1) - PA Superior Court judge since 2020; Court of Common Pleas judge for 6 years; prosecutor and civil trial attorney for 22 years; from Philadelphia, with the best chance of victory in November, and electing democrats to the PA Supreme Court has never been more important. “Highly recommended” by PA and Philadelphia Bar Associations.
Judge of the Superior Court (responsible for appeals in criminal and most civil cases and matters involving children and families, vote for up to 2): Judge Timika Lane (#4) - Court of Common Pleas judge for 6 years; previously was in private practice and a public defender. Jill Beck (#5) - a civil litigator representing abused/neglected children; law clerk in PA Superior and Supreme courts. Both candidates are “highly recommended” by the PA Bar Association and their county bar associations.
Judge of the Commonwealth Court (appeals involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies, vote for 1): Judge Matt Wolf (#6) - Phila. Municipal Court judge since 2018; Supervising Civil Judge since 2020; plaintiff’s litigation counsel often in employment and civil rights cases for 20 years. “Recommended” by the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the general trial court for civil and criminal matters, vote for up to 10). All ratings are from the Philadelphia Bar Association. Natasha Taylor-Smith (#8) - 30 years in the public and federal defenders’ offices; criminal, family, and personal injury law in her own firm; “highly recommended” by the Bar. Judge Kenneth Joel (#10) - judge in Criminal Trial Division since 2022; 30+ years’ experience in civil rights, voting, rights, environment, workers’ rights, right to healthcare; “recommended” by the Bar. Judge Brian McLaughlin (#11) - judge in Family Court since 2022; 25 years of courtroom experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney (criminal, civil and dependency law); “recommended.” Judge Tamika Washington (#12) - judge in the Criminal Trial Division since 2022; worked in civil rights, real estate, and estate law; “recommended.” Damaris Garcia (#13) - 20 years serving as both a plaintiff and defense attorney; “recommended.” Samantha Williams (#15) - Advocated for victims of crime in the DA’s office; worked for City Council writing laws to address gaps/disparities in the legal system and collaborating with various City agencies; “recommended.” Will Braveman (#17) - assistant and deputy city solicitor for 12 years; private practice handling thousands of trials and hearings; child welfare, mental health, employment discrimination; “recommended.” Chesley Lightsey (#19) - 17 years in the DA’s office specializing in crimes against women and children; was Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division and Chief of the Homicide and Non-Fatal Shooting unit; “highly recommended.” Kay Yu (#21) - was chair of the Human Relations Commission; head of voter protection for PA Dems and Biden campaign; personal injury, employee benefits, ERISA, civil RICO; “highly recommended.” Judge John Padova (#23) - twice appointed Court of Common Pleas judge; 30 years’ experience as a trial attorney in catastrophic injury claims, discrimination, disability, workers compensation; “highly recommended.”
Judge of the Municipal Court (handles criminal offenses with sentences of <5 years, small claims and landlord-tenant, vote for up to 2): Barbara Thomson (#24) - worked in Manhattan DA’s office and with large city governments to ensure public policies are legally sound; arbitrator for Philadelphia’s Compulsory Arbitration Center; court-appointed attorney in Municipal Court; “recommended.” Colleen McIntyre Osborne (#26) - prosecutor for 10+ years representing both victims and accused, focusing on crimes against women and children; “recommended.”
Mayor: Rebecca Rhynhart (#31) has worked in local government for the last 15 years, starting as City Treasurer and rising to Budget Director in the Nutter administration. Elected City Controller in 2017, running the office responsible for auditing government spending in Philadelphia. As mayor, Rebecca will prioritize reducing gun violence, making our city safer, cleaning up our streets, ensuring on-time trash pick-up, cracking down on illegal dumping, fixing our public schools, ensuring greater equity in city services, and providing economic opportunities across socioeconomic groups.
City Commissioner (pick up to 2): Omar Sabir (#40) and Lisa Deeley (#41) are running unopposed. Both are incumbents and have admirably run elections in Philadelphia during the Covid pandemic and as democracy has been under assault.
City Controller (monitors City finances): Christy Brady (#44) has worked in the Controller’s office for almost 30 years in a variety of capacities, most recently as the acting Controller, following Rebecca Rhynhart’s resignation last year. She will continue the effective operation of the office.
Register of Wills: No endorsement.
Sheriff: No endorsement.
City Council at Large (vote for up to 5): Donavan West (#68) - worked as COO of People for People, an organization that provides services to residents in distressed neighborhoods, and as CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce; strong appreciation for the importance of entrepreneurship and lifting up communities. Eryn Santamoor (#71) - extensive City management experience; served as Deputy Managing Director in the Nutter administration, helping establish the 311 system and PhillyStat; most recently City Councilperson Chief of Staff; her "Action Plan for Philadelphia" includes improvements in how the City deals with substance abuse, constituent services, affordable housing, and safety, among other issues. Katherine Gilmore Richardson (#75) - on City Council for the last 4 years; passed legislation to bolster transparency/accountability in city government, crack down on nuisance businesses; created Apprenticeship Guidebook to connect job seekers with training opportunities. Job Itzkowitz (#77) - former Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislation for City Councilperson; last 8 years as Executive Director of Old City District; will push for safer neighborhoods, cleaner streets, increased density, support for small businesses. Isaiah Thomas (#79) - has served on City Council for the last 4 years; Chair of the Streets Committee and Vice Chair of the Children and Youth Committee; has passed legislation addressing gun violence, providing pandemic relief, and making city government more transparent.
City Council 2nd District: Kenyatta Johnson (#80) running unopposed; 12-year incumbent with appreciation for specific issues in our ward.
Ballot Questions:
VOTE NO to Amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Division of Workforce Solutions. The Commerce Department’s stated mission, vision, values, and priorities already include everything proposed here and employees are already doing this work.
VOTE NO to Amend the Home Rule Charter to expand the requirements for annual minimum appropriations to the Budget Stabilization Reserve, more commonly known as the “rainy day fund”. Currently, if there is a surplus in the City’s budget then money is allocated to the “rainy day fund” based on a formula and the mayor/finance director can make additional deposits into the fund with City Council approval regardless of the projected savings. Thus, more detailed requirements outlined in this ballot question are unnecessary.
VOTE NO to Amend the Home Rule Charter to make employees of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission exempt from civil service hiring requirements. To ensure impartiality in their work and to avoid all political conflicts of interest, hiring of commission employees should be merit-based through civil service hiring requirements, not political patronage. Politics should not be injected into police oversight.
VOTE NO to Amend the Home Rule Charter to create the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director. Almost every mayor has had someone serving in this capacity, either a deputy mayor or deputy managing director. Adding this office would increase costs, reduce accountability, and chip away at executive power in Philadelphia.
2022 GENERAL ELECTION
US Senator: We strongly recommend John Fetterman (101). He has experience both as the effective mayor of a small town and as Lieutenant Governor. According to his doctors and other medical experts John is physically and mentally capable to serve as our senator right now, is expected to continue to improve, and has effective strategies for dealing with his aphasia, which impacts how he communicates, not his cognitive abilities. In terms of a platform, he is in favor of policies that would bring more overseas production back to the U.S. and require the federal government to buy from these companies, temporarily suspend the federal gas tax and crack down on oil companies who jack up prices, ensure that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, institute a cap on “out of pocket” health care costs, bring down the cost of prescription drugs for all, raise the minimum wage, and legalize marijuana. He supports codifying Roe v Wade and protecting all individuals’ rights to privacy. With respect to criminal justice issues, during his time as mayor, Braddock went 5 1/2 years with no loss of life through gun violence. He fought to ensure funding for the police and secured grants for surveillance cameras. As chair of the PA Board of Pardons he voted with law enforcement experts 87% of the time, voted to give “a second chance” to nonviolent offenders, and strongly supported giving judges discretion in sentencing. Electing John Fetterman is crucial to the Democrats keeping control of the Senate.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor: We strongly recommend Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis (102).Josh Shapiro is currently the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, serving his second term. Prior to his election to AG, he served four terms in the PA House of Representatives and then as chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Throughout his career he has worked to strengthen ethics laws, restore solid financial footing, institute reforms to ensure integrity, and safeguard the rights of all Pennsylvanians. He has proven time and time again that he can bring people together to solve tough problems and is unafraid to enforce the law without fear or favor. Austin Davischairs the PA State House Democratic Policy Committee and has worked on economic equality; fair funding for education; combating youth violence; supporting businesses owned by women and minorities. The Republican gubernatorial candidate is anti-choice, pro-gun, and an insurrectionist, and his election would be disastrous for democracy in the state of Pennsylvania. The choice could not be starker.
Representative in Congress, 3rd District: We strongly recommend Dwight Evans (103) who is a member of the Ways and Means Committee (the chief tax-writing committee), serving on its subcommittees on Health and Worker and Family Support. As vice-chair of the Small Business Committee he works to open access to loans, credit and capital; advocating for fair and true tax relief; opening the federal marketplace to entrepreneurs. Previously Dwight served in the PA House for 35 years with two decades as the chair of the Appropriations Committee.
Representative in the General Assembly, 182nd District (Divisions 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16): We strongly recommend Ben Waxman (105), who is well-grounded in Philadelphia and its issues and has experience in Harrisburg as an activist and a legislative aide to Senator Vincent Hughes. He is particularly eager to fight for more equitable funding for Philadelphia’s public schools. With his knowledge and experience he will hit the ground running in the General Assembly.
Representative in the General Assembly, 186th District (Divisions 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17): Jordan Harris (105) is a five-term incumbent and the Democratic Caucus Whip, making him the second ranking Democrat in the State House. Has aggressively pushed for criminal justice reform, introducing a bipartisan bill to reform PA's probation system.
Special Election for Council-At-Large: These positions are up for special election because councilpersons Allan Domb and Derek Green resigned earlier this year. The Democratic candidates for these two positions were selected for inclusion on the ballot by the Democratic City Committee: #1: Jim Harrity (111), #2: Sharon Vaughn (112)
Ballot Questions:
VOTE YES to Amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Department of Aviation. The Division of Aviation runs our two airports and is currently part of the Commerce Department. Creating a Department of Aviation would allow for better focus on airport operations, maintenance, and improvements. The creation of a new department can only be done as a charter change.
VOTE YES to Amend the Home Rule Charter to provide for a preference in civil service examinations for qualified graduates of Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in the School District of Philadelphia. Most City employees are hired based on competitive civil service examinations. This Charter change would award 5 bonus points to any graduate of the Philadelphia School District’s CTE programs who passes their civil-service exam. Bonuses of 5 to 10 points are currently awarded to other qualifying individuals, like veterans or children of police officers killed in the line of duty. Awarding points to CTE grads recognizes the investment we've made in these students and acknowledges their work. With thousands of vacancies in City government and more on the horizon, the added points might incentivize students to apply for City jobs. Legislative proposals from City Council for changes to civil service jobs must be enacted by a change to the City Charter which is the reason for this ballot question.
2022 PRIMARY ELECTION
US Senator: After a vigorous debate, the ward decided to endorse John Fetterman (4). He has elected experience both as the effective mayor of a small town and as Lieutenant Governor. He is known for his liberal policies, especially for raising the minimum wage, the legalization of marijuana, and for his vigorous advocacy on behalf of the incarcerated. His rough-hewn demeanor signals that he is not a typical politician which we hope will appeal to the many disenchanted working-class voters.
Governor: Josh Shapiro (5) is the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and is currently serving his second term. Prior to his election to AG, he served on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, and before that, four terms in the PA House of Representatives. Shapiro is running unopposed and has restored integrity to the AG's office during his term. He has a strong record of safeguarding the rights of all Pennsylvanians, and we believe that his experience over the course of his political career will make him an excellent governor.
Lieutenant Governor: The ward did not endorse a candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Austin Davis (6) who chairs the House Democratic Policy Committee and has worked on economic equality; fair funding for education; combating youth violence; supporting minority, women and disadvantaged business. Austin has been endorsed by Josh Shapiro, a coalition of LGBTQ+ leaders, SEIU, PA Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, all of the party’s House legislative leaders and multiple statewide labor unions. Brian Sims (8), who has been campaigning vigorously for this position for over a year, knocking on doors across the state. He got his start as a civil rights attorney, but has represented Center City in the state legislature for the last decade. He is a strong advocate for LGBTQ rights and has had great success bringing state money to his district.
Representative in Congress, 3rd District: Dwight Evans (9) is a member of the Ways and Means Committee (the chief tax-writing committee), serving on the Health and the Worker and Family Support subcommittees. As vice-chair of the Small Business Committee, he is actively working to navigate a path for small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Served in the PA House for 35 years with two decades as the chair of the Appropriations Committee.
Representative in the General Assembly, 182nd District: Ben Waxman (16) earned the ward’s endorsement through his solid grounding in Philadelphia and its issues - he has lived here for his whole life - as well as for his experience in Harrisburg both working as an activist and also as a legislative aide to Senator Vincent Hughes. We felt he could hit the ground running if elected. He is particularly eager to fight for more equitable funding for Philadelphia’s public schools.
Representative in the General Assembly, 186th District: Jordan Harris (15) is running unopposed.
Members of the Democratic State Committee (pick up to 9): Vote for all.
Ward Executive Committee (pick 2): Please pick the recommended candidates from the official ward letters and ballots.
Ballot Questions:
Amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to revise the composition of the Zoning Board of Adjustment by increasing the number of members from five to seven, requiring City Council confirmation for mayoral appointments to the ZBA, and specifying qualifications for ZBA appointees. District City Council members currently control all the mechanisms around land use in Philadelphia, with rulings of the Zoning Board of Adjustments the only element that falls outside of their purview. Requiring City Council approval of Mayoral appointees feels like an overreach, to assert complete control over development in Philadelphia. In addition, some of the ZBA qualifications might not withstand a legal challenge. We recommend voting NO.
Amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to remove all gender-based references. Changing the charter to identify individuals using titles and descriptions that could apply to anyone is a highly appropriate course of action. Vote YES.
Amend the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to remove all gender-based references. The same holds true here as in Question 2. Vote YES.
Amend the Home Rule Charter to establish the Fair Housing Commission to administer and enforce statutes concerning unfair rental practices and adjudicate landlord tenant disputes. The Fair Housing Commission already exists as a part of our local government, providing a number of critical services to the public. This charter change would make it a permanent fixture, such that it would be impossible to eliminate by executive or legislative action. Vote YES.
2021 GENERAL ELECTION
Justice of the Supreme Court (highest appellate court in the state): Judge Maria McLaughlin (101) is currently on the Pennsylvania Superior Court; was a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas for 6 years, never had a ruling overturned, was head of the child support enforcement unit and director of the Family Justice Center Initiative; 19 years in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office where she served as Chief ADA, head of the Child Support Enforcement Unit and director of the Family Justice Center Initiative; highly recommended by the PA Bar Association.
Judge of the Superior Court (responsible for appeals in criminal and most civil cases and matters involving children and families): Judge Timika Lane (102) has been a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge since 2013; private practice primarily in family law; worked in Public Defender’s Office; recommended by the PA Bar Association.
Judge of the Commonwealth Court (appeals involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies, vote for 2): Judge Lori A. Dumas (103) has been a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge for over 18 years presiding over family, criminal and civil division cases; leader in creating the First Judicial District’s Juvenile Human Trafficking Court; recommended by PA Bar Association. Judge David Lee Spurgeon (104) worked in the Allegheny County DA’s office for almost twenty years. Judge on Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas since 2016 in the family division, and is considered a national expert on domestic violence. Highly recommended by the PA Bar.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the general trial court for civil and criminal matters, vote for up to 12): The 30th Ward interviewed and recommends the following candidates: Nicholas Kamau (105) has worked as a prosecutor, public defender and civil attorney; highly recommended by the Bar. Wendi Barish (106) has a strong civil defense background and is now Senior Deputy Counsel for the Philadelphia Housing Authority; recommended by the Philadelphia Bar. Judge Cateria McCabe (107) was appointed by Gov. Wolf to the Court of Common Pleas; has a record for fairness and equity hearing juvenile cases; recommended by the Bar. Betsy Wahl (108) has been a juvenile court hearing officer; a private and court appointed mediator for juvenile and family matters; recommended by the Bar. Chris Hall (109) has successfully taken on asbestos polluters and predatory mortgage lenders in private practice; highly recommended by the Bar. Michelle Hangley (110) was instrumental in ending Pennsylvania’s unfair gerrymandering and ensuring that all Pennsylvanians’ votes counted in 2020; highly recommended by the Bar. Craig Levin (111) in practice 33 years, has litigated matters including, criminal defense, personal injury, estate issues, family law, real estate and employment and contract disputes; recommended by the Bar. Judge Daniel R. Sulman (112) was appointed by Gov. Wolf to Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; has kept his courtroom active during COVID as a place of justice open to Philadelphia families; recommended by the Bar. Judge Mark Moore (115) was appointed by Gov. Wolf to the Court of Common Pleas; sits in Criminal Trial Division; former insurance defense attorney and assistant district attorney; highly recommended by the Bar. .
Municipal Court (handles criminal offenses with sentences of <5 years, small claims and landlord-tenant, vote for up to 5): The 30th Ward interviewed and recommends the following candidates: Greg Yorgey-Girdy (117) is a civil defense attorney and former city solicitor who has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights; recommended by the Bar. Michael Lambert (118), Judge George Twardy (119) was appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by Gov. Wolf; experience encompasses every type of case he would hear as a Municipal Court judge; recommended by the Bar.
District Attorney: Incumbent DA Larry Krasner (122) has positively impacted the rights of the accused and worked to make the criminal justice system more equitable, less oppressive, and less racist. We are concerned that Krasner is unable to articulate a plan to deal with the increasing violence in our city, but still recommend him over his opponent.
City Controller (monitors City finances): Rebecca Rhynhart (123) is running unopposed. We appreciate her performance as a financial watchdog to date and believe she will continue to do good work moving forward.
2021 PRIMARY ELECTION
Justice of the Supreme Court (highest appellate court in the state): Judge Maria McLaughlin (#1) is currently on the Pennsylvania Superior Court; 6 years on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas where she never had a ruling overturned, was head of the child support enforcement unit and director of family justice center initiative; 19 years in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office where she served as Chief ADA, head of the Child Support Enforcement Unit and director of the Family Justice Center Initiative; highly recommended by the PA Bar Association.
Judge of the Superior Court (responsible for appeals in criminal and most civil cases and matters involving children and families, vote for 1): Judge Timika Lane (#3) has been a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge since 2013; private practice primarily in family law; worked in Public Defender’s Office; recommended by the PA Bar Association.
Judge of the Commonwealth Court (appeals involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies, vote for 2): Judge Lori A. Dumas (#6) has been a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge for over 18 years presiding over family, criminal and civil division cases; leader in creating the First Judicial District’s Juvenile Human Trafficking Court; recommended by PA Bar Association. Judge Sierra Thomas Street (#7) has served in both the criminal and civil divisions of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; former trial attorney with the Defender’s Association of Philadelphia; former chief counsel at Friends Rehabilitation Program Inc.; recommended by PA Bar Association.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the general trial court for civil and criminal matters, vote for up to 8): Wendi Barish (#11) has a strong civil defense background and is now Senior Deputy Counsel for the Philadelphia Housing Authority; recommended by the Philadelphia Bar. Judge Cateria McCabe (#13) was appointed by Gov. Wolf to the Court of Common Pleas; has a record for fairness and equity hearing juvenile cases; recommended by the Bar. Nicholas Kamau (#14) has worked as a prosecutor, public defender and civil attorney; highly recommended by the Bar. Judge Daniel R. Sulman (#15) was appointed by Gov. Wolf to Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; has kept his courtroom active during COVID as a place of justice open to Philadelphia families; recommended by the Bar. Betsy Wahl (#18) has been a juvenile court hearing officer; a private and court appointed mediator for juvenile and family matters; recommended by the Bar. Michelle Hangley (#19) was instrumental in ending Pennsylvania’s unfair gerrymandering and ensuring that all Pennsylvanians’ votes counted in 2020; highly recommended by the Bar. Chris Hall (#22) has successfully taken on asbestos polluters and predatory mortgage lenders in private practice; highly recommended by the Bar. Judge Mark Moore (#23) was appointed by Gov. Wolf to the Court of Common Pleas; sits in Criminal Trial Division; former insurance defense attorney and assistant district attorney; highly recommended by the Bar.
Municipal Court (handles criminal offenses with sentences of <5 years, small claims and landlord-tenant, vote for up to 3): Judge George Twardy (#27) was appointed to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by Gov. Wolf; experience encompasses every type of case he would hear as a Municipal Court judge; recommended by the Bar. Gregory Yorgey-Girdy (#28) is a civil defense attorney and former city solicitor who has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights; recommended by the Bar.
District Attorney: The 30th Ward was not able to come to an endorsement in this race.
City Controller (monitors City finances): Rebecca Rhynhart (#31) is running unopposed. We appreciate her performance as a financial watchdog to date and believe she will continue to do good work moving forward.
2020 GENERAL ELECTION
President and Vice-President of the United States - Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris (#101): Make America Sane Again.
Attorney General - Josh Shapiro (#102) is the incumbent Attorney General and has restored integrity to the AG's office. He has a strong record protecting the environment and labor rights, taking on the Trump administration, and safeguarding the rights of all Pennsylvanians.
Auditor General - Nina Ahmad (#103): The Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer for PA, performing financial and performance audits to ensure appropriate use of public funds and to determine program efficiency and effectiveness. Ahmad is a first-generation Bangladeshi-American who served as Philadelphia’s Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement in the Kenney administration and she will provide critical oversight to our state budget.
State Treasurer - Joe Torsella (#104) is the incumbent State Treasurer; has been a strong voice for smart policy, fiscal responsibility, and public integrity. His experience will be especially necessary in the coming years as Pennsylvania works through significant budget shortfalls.
Representative in Congress, 3rd District - Dwight Evans (#105) is a member of the Ways and Means Committee (the chief tax-writing committee), serving on the Health and the Worker and Family Support subcommittees. As vice-chair of the Small Business Committee, he is actively working to navigate a path for small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before being elected to the US House, he served in the PA House for 35 years with two decades as the chair of the Appropriations Committee.
Senator in the General Assembly, 1st District - Nikil Saval (#106) was a leader in the Bernie Sanders campaign, is active with Reclaim Philadelphia, and is co-editor of literary magazine n+1; running on a platform of housing for all, healthcare for all, safe and equitable education, and a Green stimulus plan for Philadelphia.
Representative in the General Assembly, 186th District - Jordan Harris (#107) is a four-term incumbent and the Democratic Caucus Whip, making him the second ranking Democrat in the State House. Has aggressively pushed for criminal justice reform, introducing a bipartisan bill to reform PA's probation system.
Ballot Questions:
Question 1: Change the City’s Charter so that it sets forth a statement that calls upon the Police Department to end the unconstitutional practice of stop and frisk. As the question indicates, stop and frisk is already unconstitutional. We recommend a YES vote with the hope that this will bring added attention to the issue and provide more pressure to eliminate this practice.
Question 2: Change the City’s Charter so that it establishes an Office of the Victim Advocate. We recommend a YES vote with the hope that this new City office will be able to coordinate activities with those at the state level and in the DA’s office.
Question 3: Change the City’s Charter so that it creates a Citizens Police Oversight Commission as a permanent part of City government. A group that provides citizen oversight over the police is more important now than ever. We recommend a YES vote so that future mayors or city councils will not be able to disband this Commission.
Question 4: Authorize the City to borrow $134M for Transit, Streets and Sanitation, Municipal Buildings, Parks, Recreation and Museums, and Economic and Community Development. We recommend a YES vote on this standard bond issue.
2020 PRIMARY ELECTION
President of the United States - Joseph Biden (#2): Many things are at stake in this election - health care, civil rights, climate, and the Supreme Court. That's why we strongly urge you to vote for Joe Biden for President. He has deep experience getting things done in Washington and has been thoroughly vetted during his decades of public service. As a Senator, he wrote and passed the Violence Against Women Act. As Vice President in the Obama Administration, he managed the federal stimulus program. He has recently adopted Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to forgive $10K in student loans which is why Elizabeth Warren has endorsed him. Bernie Sanders has also endorsed Biden, as have most prominent Democrats. We believe that a unified Democratic Party is the only way to win this fall, and polls have consistently shown that Biden is the best candidate to beat Trump, so we urge you to vote for Biden as well as the delegates pledged to him.
Attorney General - Josh Shapiro (#4) is the incumbent Attorney General and running unopposed. Shapiro has restored integrity to the AG's office and has a strong record of safeguarding the rights of all Pennsylvanians.
Auditor General - Michael Lamb (#6): The Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer for PA, performing financial and performance audits to ensure appropriate use of public funds and to determine program efficiency and effectiveness. We believe Lamb has the strongest background to step into this role, leveraging his extensive local experience, especially in the face of anticipated budget challenges. As Pittsburgh's Controller since 2008, he has worked to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse while strengthening the city’s finances.
State Treasurer - Joe Torsella (#11) is the incumbent State Treasurer and running unopposed; has been a strong voice for smart policy, fiscal responsibility, and public integrity. His experience will be especially necessary in the coming years as Pennsylvania works through significant budget shortfalls.
Representative in Congress, 3rd District - Dwight Evans (#12) is an incumbent and is running unopposed. Evans is a member of the Ways and Means Committee (the chief tax-writing committee), serving on the Health and the Worker and Family Support subcommittees. As vice-chair of the Small Business Committee, he is actively working to navigate a path for small businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Served in the PA House for 35 years with two decades as the chair of the Appropriations Committee.
Senator in the General Assembly, 1st District - Larry Farnese (#14) has represented our district for three terms, has brought $1B in state funds to the district, and is part of the House Democratic leadership. He has sponsored, co-sponsored or supported legislation on the environment, education, political reform, public safety, jobs, LGBTQ rights, women's rights, and housing. For example, he co-sponsored a bill to move PA to 100% renewable energy by 2050; restored $1 billion in Republican education funding cuts; led the effort to fund asbestos, lead, mold remediation from the schools; authored the bill to remove elected officials from the DROP program; sponsored bi-partisan legislation to enact campaign finance limits; instrumental in legislation providing Philadelphia port funding to maintain well-paying jobs; secured over $14 million in affordable housing grants and tax credits, and voted for construction of affordable housing units.
Representative in the General Assembly, 186th District - Jordan Harris (#15), a four-term incumbent running unopposed, is the Democratic Caucus Whip making him the second ranking member for Democrats in the State House. Has aggressively pushed for criminal justice reform, introducing a bipartisan bill to reform PA's probation system.
Delegate to the Democratic National Convention: We recommend voting for all the delegates and the alternate pledged to Joe Biden, and especially recommend Terry Gillen (#31), a former Ward Leader and a longtime advocate in our community.
Ballot Questions:
Question 1: Vote NO - While we generally support the idea of creating a new Department of Labor, we don’t believe it’s responsible at this time to create any new City offices at a time when the Mayor is proposing deep budget cuts because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Questions 2: Vote YES - Philadelphia has one of the strictest laws in the country in terms of restricting City employees from volunteering with political campaigns. This ballot question would allow City employees to volunteer in state and federal races on their own time but would still prohibit volunteering with local campaigns. This would put Philadelphia more in line with other cities.
2019 GENERAL ELECTION
Judge of the Superior Court (responsible for appeals in criminal and most civil cases and matters involving children and families, vote for up to 2): Amanda Green Hawkins (#101), practicing attorney for 20 years with a focus on representing labor unions; a member of Allegheny County Council. Daniel McCaffery (#102), a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge since 2013; prosecutor and civil trial attorney for 22 years; highly recommended by the PA Bar Association.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the general trial court for civil and criminal matters, vote for up to 7): All candidates are either recommended or highly recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Jennifer Schultz (#103) worked at Community Legal Services for over a decade representing low-income clients in foreclosures, tax collections, debt collection, and other consumer matters. Anthony Kyriakakis (#104) who has been both a federal prosecutor (violent robbers, child pornographers, offenses targeting the elderly, abuse of power) and a defense attorney (for low-income Philadelphians); teaches at Temple and Penn Law; highly recommended by the Bar Association. Joshua Roberts (#105) clerked in the Court of Common Pleas and US District Court before spending a decade handling general and business litigation; specialist in election and campaign finance law. Tiffany Palmer (#106) has practiced family law for 20 years; trial and appellate experience focused on civil litigation, estate planning, family law, adoption and assisted reproductive technology law; highly recommended by the Bar Association. James Crumlish (#107) former City Commissioner and General Counsel for PPA, spent twenty years in the private sector focusing on commercial litigation; highly recommended by the Bar Association. Carmella Jacquinto (#108) worked as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting crimes in the Municipal, Juvenile, Felony Waiver, and Major Trial units; spent the last five years in private practice focused on criminal defense and domestic relations matters.
Municipal Court (handles criminal offenses with sentences of <5 years, small claims and landlord-tenant): David Conroy (#110), practicing for 25 years as both an ADA and criminal defense attorney; strong advocate for diversionary programs for non-violent offenders; recommended by the Bar Association.
Mayor of Philadelphia: Under the leadership of Mayor Jim Kenney (#111) Philadelphia took back control of our school district, improved access to free pre-K for thousands of children, decreased the prison population by 40%, injected needed funds into infrastructure through the Rebuild program, and maintained our status as a Sanctuary City in the face of opposition from the Trump administration. He continues to work on finding additional resources for pre-K programs, on innovative ways to deal with the opioid crisis, and to reduce the tax burden for businesses and individuals in Philadelphia.
City Commissioners: (oversees voter registration and election-day operations, vote for up to 2): Omar Sabir (#112) worked for State Senator Vincent Hughes; was a union construction worker; founded Vote Philly Vote to increase voter turnout in Philadelphia. Lisa Deeley (#113) is Chair of the City Commissioners; worked in the State House, Controller’s office, and City Council before being elected Commissioner in 2015.
Register of Wills: Tracey Gordon (#114) is running unopposed.
Sheriff: Rochelle Bilal (#115), a 27-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Dept; Secretary of the Philadelphia NAACP, President of the Guardian Civic League; running unopposed.
City Council At-Large (represent the entire city in City Council, vote for up to 5): Helen Gym (#116) has been a strong voice for quality public schools while also pushing for housing as a human right and for a fair share economy; recently introduced a “Right to Counsel” bill to ensure that renters facing eviction have a lawyer to represent them. Allan Domb (#117) has focused on holding the City government accountable for spending habits, collecting delinquent property taxes, and investing in our children and the public-school system; has donated his salary back to the City every year he’s been a member of City Council. Isaiah Thomas (#118) has a “youth-driven” agenda, to improve public schools and access to after-school opportunities; will combat gun violence through education and increased job opportunities in struggling communities. Derek Green (#119) has sponsored legislation advocating against discrimination, establishing a tourism improvement district, and improving local campaign finance laws; has been a voice for cutting red tape to make it easier for small businesses to grow; serves on the Special Committee on Regulatory Review & Reform. Katherine Gilmore Richardson (#120) worked for Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown for a decade; will introduce legislation to create opportunities for job creation, poverty rate reduction, and closing the income equality gap in Philadelphia.
2nd District City Council: Kenyatta Johnson (#121) has served the 2nd district for two terms. His agenda includes initiatives to keep property taxes down, reform our justice system, and make pre-K available to all children in Philadelphia. Johnson has represented constituent interests in fighting for a living wage for airport workers and expanding assistance to longtime homeowners to pay their taxes through the LOOP program.
Judicial Retention: Vote yes for all judicial retention candidates, all of whom are recommended by the city or state Bar.
Ballot Questions:
Proposed Constitutional Amendment: Vote NO - Amend the PA Constitution to grant certain rights to crime victims. This amendment, commonly known as Marsy’s Law, seems like a sensible ballot initiative on its face. However, the ACLU has raised a number of issues with the ballot question, including that the wording is too vague, it is not adequately detailed, and could give rise to due process concerns for people accused of crimes. The ACLU has filed suit in Commonwealth Court on behalf of the League of Women Voters, arguing that the amendment would violate the PA constitution which requires separate votes when two or more amendments are being proposed at one time. The judge in this case just issued an injunction that the votes for this ballot question will not be counted until the case winds its way completely through the courts. A no vote is also recommended by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Proposed Charter Change Question: Vote YES - When buying goods or services, the City is required to follow special bidding rules for any purchase over $34,000. This Charter Change would raise the threshold to $75,000. This change should help level the playing field for small businesses to more actively bid on City contracts.
Proposed City Bond Question: Vote YES - This is a standard City Bond issue to fund the Streets Department, Parks and Rec, Sanitation, Transit, and other City agencies and functions.
2019 PRIMARY ELECTION
Judge of the Superior Court (responsible for appeals in criminal and most civil cases and matters involving children and families, vote for up to 2): Daniel McCaffery (#2), a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge since 2013; prosecutor and civil trial attorney for 22 years. You can vote for two candidates, but we suggest only voting for McCaffery, the only candidate from eastern PA and the only sitting judge running for this office.
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (the general trial court for civil and criminal matters, vote for up to 6): Leon Goodman (#11), a defense attorney focused on civil defense, major felonies, juvenile offenses and civil mental health commitments; an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) for 14 years before. Vicki Markovitz (#17), an ADA for 18 years in the Trial and Investigation Divisions trying cases in State and Federal courts, assigned to US Attorney’s Office to work on violent crime reduction initiatives; intends to run a “trauma informed courtroom.” Anthony Kyriakakis (#19) prosecuted violent robbers, child pornographers, offenses targeting the elderly, abuse of power (e.g., fraud and witness tampering); teaches about sentencing (unequal treatment based on race, gender, sexual identity and socioeconomic status) at Temple and Penn Law; highly recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Henry McGregor Sias (#21) has clerked for two PA Supreme Court judges, founded a legal non-profit that has performed thousands of free expungements, and would be the first transgender man elected judge in the U.S. Tiffany Palmer (#23) has practiced family law for 20 years with trial and appellate experience focused on civil litigation, estate planning, family law, adoption and assisted reproductive technology law; highly recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Kay Yu (#27), labor law practice focuses on complex civil litigation, employment matters including ERISA claims, general commercial actions, disability and age discrimination, family and medical leave, civil rights; served as chairperson of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.
Municipal Court (handles criminal offenses with sentences of <5 years, small claims and landlord-tenant): David Conroy (#29), practicing for 25 years as both an ADA and criminal defense attorney; strong advocate for diversionary programs for non-violent offenders.
Mayor of Philadelphia: Under the leadership of Mayor Jim Kenney (#31) Philadelphia took back control of our school district, improved access to free pre-K for thousands of children, decreased the prison population by 40%, injected needed funds into infrastructure through the Rebuild program, and maintained our status as a Sanctuary City in the face of opposition from the Trump administration. He continues to work on finding additional resources for pre-K programs, on innovative ways to deal with the opioid crisis, and to reduce the tax burden for businesses and individuals in Philadelphia.
City Commissioners: (oversees voter registration and election-day operations, vote for up to 2): Kahlil Williams (#40) has worked on voting rights and election reform at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act, the Brennan Center for Justice on redistricting reform, and felon re-enfranchisement. Jen Devor (#45) is a community activist who serves as a block captain, a committee person, and volunteer with her local school parent group. An inaugural member of the Committee of 70's Buchholz Fellowship, which focuses on non-partisan initiatives to create voter turnout, and a recipient of numerous community service awards.
Register of Wills: Incumbent Ron Donatucci has served in this position for 10 terms and we believe that it’s time for a change. We don’t, however, believe that any of the candidates would be the right choice for this position. We therefore do not have a recommendation for this office.
Sheriff: Malika Rahman (#51) has worked in law enforcement for 10 years, most recently as a Deputy Sheriff and previously as a correctional officer. She would bring fresh leadership, building relationships to help prevent evictions, and promising accountability, accessibility, and transparency, all of which have been lacking for years in the Sheriff’s office.
City Council At-Large (represent the entire city in City Council, vote for up to 5): Helen Gym (#56) has been a strong voice for quality public schools while also pushing for housing as a human right and for Philadelphia to embrace a fair share economy; recently introduced a “Right to Counsel” bill to ensure that renters facing eviction have a lawyer to represent them; endorsed by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Eryn Santamoor (#60) was Deputy Managing Director in the Nutter administration, helping to establish the 311 system and PhillyStat and working to cut $21M in waste from the City budget; has an "Action Plan for Philadelphia" which includes improvements to the way the City deals with substance abuse, constituent services, affordable housing, and safety, among other issues; endorsed by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Allan Domb (#66) has focused on holding the City government accountable, collecting delinquent property taxes, and investing in our children and the public school system; has donated his salary back to the City every year he’s been a member of City Council. Derek Green (#78) has sponsored legislation advocating against discrimination, establishing a tourism improvement district, and improving local campaign finance laws; has extensive experience in City government and has been a voice for cutting red tape to make it easier for small businesses to grow; serves on the Special Committee on Regulatory Review & Reform. Justin DiBerardinis (#80) previously worked as a legislative aide to Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and as Program Director at Bartram’s Garden; envisions a “New Deal for Philadelphia” that would use increased revenue from economic growth and a reformed and more progressive tax policy to fund a major public jobs and services program targeted at the neighborhoods most in need of help in those areas.
2nd District City Council: Lauren Vidas (#84), an attorney and lobbyist who worked as a legislative aide in City Council and as an Assistant Finance Director under Mayor Nutter. Vidas has extensive community volunteer experience as SOSNA chair and one of the founders of Stanton Community Partners and Bloktoberfest. She fought to keep the EM Stanton School from closing and worked as the PA Voter Protection Director for the Obama campaign. Vidas has a progressive agenda, seeking to reform councilmanic prerogative, introduce term limits for City Council, and reform campaign finance laws.
Ballot Questions:
Question 1: Vote YES - Amend the Charter to change certain gender specific references to gender neutral references (e.g., councilman to councilmember). As The Philadelphia Inquirer says, “There is no reason for gender to be a part of the way we describe the leadership in our city.” We agree.
Questions 2-4: Vote NO - We are tired of referendum-type issues being put on the ballot by City Council that are not legitimate City Charter change issues. Although we agree with the substance of some of these questions, we think that City Council is just trying to “score points” by presenting them as ballot questions. Therefore, we urge a NO vote on all of them. This will send a message to City Council to stop wasting voters’ time.