Next Tuesday is the first major test for post-presidential election Philadelphia: Can the political engagement actually last?
In case you didn’t hear, Tuesday is the citywide primary for Philadelphia district attorney, city controller and a number of judicial positions. The race for district attorney has gotten by far the most attention, largely because it’s wide open and several candidates have attempted to nationalize the race.
Seven Democrats are running to replace District Attorney Seth Williams, the two-term DA now under federal indictment. There’s been no public polling, and there’s no clear frontrunner. So vote! You can find your polling place here and catch up on all the 2017 election news here.
Remember, Pennsylvania has closed primaries. You can vote for candidates only in the party with which you’re registered (Rs and Ds only). But everyone who’s registered can respond to the ballot questions.
Below is your procrastinator’s guide to every candidate, listed in order of ballot position:
District Attorney – Democrats
Below are each of the seven Democrats running for nomination for district attorney. The winner will likely face Republican Beth Grossman in the November election. With Philadelphia’s 7-to-1 Democratic voter registration advantage, whoever emerges from this crowded field will have a huge advantage.
Rich Negrin
You know him as: The former city managing director under ex-Mayor Michael Nutter.
His bio in 140 or less: Ex-Philly Managing Director and former Board of Ethics vice-chair. Proud Cuban American. Often seen with @FOPLodge5.
Three things to know:
1. Negrin began his career in the district attorney’s office, but he was most recently the city managing director under former Mayor Michael Nutter for six years. In that capacity, Negrin was essentially in charge of overseeing the day-to-day functions of the city of Philadelphia. Some people think of the managing director as the sort of shadow mayor that you don’t see — the one who’s in charge of focusing on the nitty-gritty.
2. He knows about violence, because he saw it first-hand. When Negrin was 13 years old in 1979, he and his father were getting ready to go to his first-ever Pop Warner football game when his father was gunned down by two assassins. He tells the story often to illustrate how one experience can lead to advocacy and to describe why he became a prosecutor.
3. He’s endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, AKA the Philadelphia Police Union. That’s a *huge* get for a district attorney candidate and immediately places him among the frontrunners. Negrin, a Democrat, has caught some flak for it though, too. That’s because this chapter of the FOP also endorsed Donald Trump.
Policy priorities:
1. Running an ethical office: In interviews and throughout the campaign, Negrin has largely stressed returning a sense of ethics to the Office of the District Attorney. He says he’s uniquely qualified in that way, as he served as the vice chair of the Philadelphia Board of Ethics between 2006 and 2010. He’s pledged that, if elected, he won’t accept gifts as DA.
2. Criminal justice system reform — While criminal justice reform is not exactly a popular phrase with the police union, Negrin still holds some relatively liberal views when it comes to revamping the system. He’s said he won’t seek the death penalty if elected (though he stressed that position only after another candidate did), wants to review the cash bail system and told Philly Mag that the police union-backed arbitration system in the city is “broken.”
Who supports this candidate:
- Editorial boards of The Philly Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer
- Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 5
- Guardian Civic League
- National Black Police Officers Association
- Pennsylvania Democratic Latino Caucus
- Sheet Metal Workers, Local 19
- African-Caribbean African-Latino PAC
- Philly Set Go
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
Joe Khan
You know him as: A former federal prosecutor in the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
His bio in 140 or less: Former federal prosecutor and ex-ADA. @BarackObama used to be my teacher. “The early bird catches the worm.”
Three things to know:
1. Khan has some of the most experience of any of the candidates in terms of time spent as a prosecutor in Philadelphia. He worked as an assistant district attorney for six years (prosecuting sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse) and as a federal prosecutor for another 10. He also studied at the University of Chicago Law School under one of the world’s most famous lawyers: Barack Obama, for whom Khan later campaigned.
2. He was the first candidate to declare he was running for district attorney (10 weeks before anyone else did), and he did so long before DA Seth Williams announced he wouldn’t seek re-election. Khan also long led in the money race, largely due to small individual contributions.
3. As The Inquirer’s Chris Brennan pointed out, “Khan has waged a more negative campaign than the rest.” He’s focused a lot on Michael Untermeyer, a candidate in the Democratic primary who is a former Republican. Brennan said it best: “It’s a remarkable transition. The candidate who has the least amount of political experience (Khan) is throwing the sharpest jabs.”
Policy priorities: Khan highlighted four policy areas on his website that he says he’s focused on:
1. The welfare of children: Khan points out that Williams reduced funding and resources to prosecuting cases of child abuse, a trend he says he’ll reverse. He says he’ll lead a task force addressing lead exposure in children, and will also work to dedicate civil asset forfeiture proceeds to schools and youth programs.
2. A renewed focus on rooting out sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking.
3. Criminal justice reform: Khan has pledged to stop unconstitutional stop-and-frisk, support Gov. Wolf’s moratorium on the death penalty, end the cash bail system and improve job placement programs for those reentering society after incarceration. He’s also promised to foster better police accountability by requiring “all confessions in capital cases be videotaped to demonstrate that they were not coerced.”
4. Run an office with integrity: He says he’ll refuse to accept any gifts as district attorney.
Who supports this candidate:
- Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who served as the Philadelphia District Attorney between 1978 and 1985
- Gold Star father Khizr Khan (the father who spoke at the Democratic National Convention)
- Former congresswoman Allyson Schwartz
- Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women
- State Rep. Mike O’Brien
- The Philadelphia Tribune, America’s oldest newspaper serving the African-American community
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
Michael Untermeyer
You know him as: The former Republican who’s run for local political office twice before and formerly worked in the Philadelphia Office of the Attorney General.
His bio in 140 or less: Now: Democratic candidate for District Attorney. Then: Local prosecutor, senior deputy in state Office of the Attorney General, Republican.
Three things to know:
1. Untermeyer worked as a prosecutor for 15 years as an assistant district attorney, a deputy attorney general and a senior deputy attorney general. Following his stint in the state attorney general’s office, he became a businessman and real estate developer.
2. He unsuccessfully ran for office twice before as a Republican, once in 2009 when he ran as district attorney and again in 2011 when he ran for City Council. And his opponents have latched onto that, also pointing out that last fall, he told Philly.com that “Only a Democrat can win this office.” The first time he ran for office was in 2007, when he ran for Sheriff as a Democrat.
3. Untermeyer is the reason a “millionaire’s provision” in local campaign finance law was triggered for this election. That’s because he “donated” more than a quarter of a million dollars to his own campaign. Wowza.
Policy priorities: Untermeyer has among the most developed policy plans posted online of any candidate. You can read them here. The highlights are:
- Eliminate cash bail
- Fix the civil asset forfeiture system
- Strengthen conviction integrity
- Reform low-level prosecutions
- Streamline juvenile resentencing
- End illegal stop-and-frisk
- Improve community relations
- Pursue white-collar crime
- Fight elder abuse
- Combat violent crime
- Push for lasting and effective police reform
- Prioritize ethics
Who supports this candidate:
- Sheriff Jewel Williams
- State Sen. Anthony Williams
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
Tariq Karim El-Shabazz
You know him as: The guy who worked right under District Attorney Seth Williams.
His bio in 140 or less: Former top deputy under @DASethWilliams. Ex-defense attorney. Send tips and inquiries about my taxes to tariq@tariqforjustice.com.
Three things to know:
1. El-Shabazz started his career as an assistant district attorney, but he spent most of it as a criminal defense attorney. Under District Attorney Seth Williams, El-Shabazz returned to the District Attorney’s office as the Head of Investigations and First Assistant District Attorney, making him Williams’ No. 2. He resigned that post to run for DA.
2. Though El-Shabazz is the only black candidate in a city that is more than 40 percent black, he said during his campaign announcement: “While some might attempt to paint me as the African-American candidate or the Black candidate in this race, I simply prefer that you know me as the most experienced candidate.”
3. Like Williams, El-Shabazz has had personal problems that have trickled out into the press. First, Philly.com reported that there are more than $190,000 in tax liens filed against him and his former lawfirm was taken to court six times for failing to pay rent.
Then, a City & State PA investigation revealed that a number of incarcerated men say El-Shabazz took their money and ran. Reporter Ryan Briggs continued: “Court records show that the defense attorney missed court dates and, in some cases, misstated facts to judges to excuse his absences. Some of El-Shabazz’s former colleagues have said his conduct later contributed to his well-documented money problems as his reputation deteriorated.” El-Shabazz denied the allegations and called Briggs “fake news” in a screed that was posted on Twitter (and then later deleted).
And this week, Philly Mag reported that El-Shabazz and his wife were sued in 2010 and accused of failing to pay $25,000 worth of tuition costs. Court records show El-Shabazz still hasn’t paid more than $8,000 that the school says it’s owed.
Policy priorities: Here’s how El-Shabazz characterizes his policy priorities online:
- Create diversion programs offered for all non-violent offenders.
- Make streets safer by focusing on tough but fair prosecutions of violent offenders.
- Eliminate cash bail for non-violent offenders by creating day reporting sites which would offer employment locating services and other social services.
- End mass incarceration by creating a more robust probation and parole system.
- Unite the citizens of Philadelphia through community-based prosecution and transparency.
- Focus on creating, enhancing and working with partners on pre-entry and re-entry programs.
Who supports this candidate:
- Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell
- Philadelphia Councilman Curtis Jones Jr.
- Philadelphia Councilwoman Cindy Bass
- Laborers’ District Council
- Laborers’ Local 332
- Transport Workers Union Local 234
Philadelphia Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds BrownThough El-Shabazz’s campaign wrote in a May 5 media advisory that Brown would be endorsing him, the Councilwoman’s office said she is “unequivocally” not endorsing anyone.
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
Lawrence S. Krasner
You know him as: “Larry.” Also, the Philadelphia defense attorney often representing protesters and vocally championing criminal justice reform.
His bio in 140 or less: Civil rights lawyer who’s represented #BlackLivesMatter, @OccupyPhilly and more. Hates police corruption. Stay outta my DMs, @georgesoros.
Three things to know:
1. We’ll say it since he hasn’t really: Krasner is basically the Bernie Sanders of the DA’s race. He’s an avowed progressive and a longtime, very vocal civil rights activist who has managed to draw the entire race farther to the left.
2. Krasner, who doesn’t have the prosecutorial experience other candidates do, has run a Center City lawfirm for about 25 years that’s focused on criminal defense and civil rights. He’s repped RNC 2000 and DNC 2016 protesters, members of ACT Up, Black Lives Matter and many more. Krasner also says he’s filed “more than 75 civil rights lawsuits against the police for corruption and physical abuse.”
3. Seeing ads for Krasner? There’s a good chance they were paid for by liberal billionaire George Soros. The mega-donor pumped $1.4 million into the race through a PAC called Philadelphia Justice & Public Safety.
Policy priorities: Krasner split his platform into three major policy sections:
1. End mass incarceration by doing the following: Stop prosecuting insufficient and insignificant cases; review past convictions; free the wrongfully convicted; stop cash bail imprisonment; treat addiction as a medical problem, not a crime; and bring police and communities together.
2. Stand up for rights and liberties by stopping the pursuit of death sentences, ending illegal stop-and-frisk and ending the civil asset forfeiture program.
3. Resist the Trump Administration by protecting immigrants, rejecting a return to “the failed drug wars of the past” and standing up to police misconduct.
Who supports this candidate:
- Philadelphia Gay News
- Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP) AFT L.4531 – AFL-CIO
- Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia (FSFCCP) AFT L.2026 – AFL-CIO
- UNITE HERE Locals 274 and 634
- MoveOn.org
- Neighborhood Networks
- Real Justice PAC
- Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP)
- Democracy for America
- Color of Change PAC
- Our Revolution
- 215 People’s Alliance
- Food & Water Action Fund
- Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club
- Penn Democrats
- AFSCME District 1199C National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees – AFL-CIO
- The B.L.O.C. Party – Build, Lead, Organize, Campaign
- Philly for Change
- Pennsylvania Working Families
- Center for Carceral Communities
- Reclaim Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) – IBT
- Shaun King, Black Lives Matter activist and New York Daily News writer
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
Teresa Carr Deni
You know her as: The longtime municipal judge.
Her bio in 140 or less: 21-year veteran judge in the Municipal Court of Philadelphia. Let’s not talk about that case from 2007.
Three things to know:
1. Deni was a Philadelphia Municipal Court judge for 21 years, a post she resigned from to run for district attorney. She says she’s been assigned nearly 100,000 cases, both criminal and civil.
2. One of those cases got a lot of attention. In 2007, Deni dismissed sexual assault charges against a man who was accused of raping a prostitute and said she considered the case “theft of services.” Deni told The Daily News at the time: “She consented and she didn’t get paid. I thought it was a robbery.” In an interview with Philly Mag this year, Deni basically refused to talk about it.
3. She wants to increase the penalty for smoking weed outside, telling Philly Mag “I don’t like marijuana smoking in public, and I think it should be on the same level as if you’re drinking in public.”
Policy priorities:
1. Run an ethical ship: Deni was highly critical of District Attorney Seth Williams when she announced her bid for DA, telling Newsworks he was too distracted to be the city’s top prosecutor. She also told Philly.com that there’s a “‘disconnect’ between Williams and people he serves, driven in part by his prosecution of local legislators for taking illegal gifts while he was also accepting expensive gifts but not reporting them.”
2. Better handle juvenile lifer cases: Deni said Williams’ blanket 35-years-to-life offer for juvenile lifers facing a chance of parole “is not doing your job.”
3. Reform the civil asset forfeiture system and find alternatives to mass incarceration.
Who supports this candidate: We weren’t able to locate major endorsements for Carr Deni.
How to find out more: Visit her website here.
John O’Neill
You know him as: “Jack.” Also, the young, now-former assistant district attorney.
His bio in 140 or less: Former assistant district attorney in the Homicide Unit. Fan of @IBEW98. Stop talking about my baby face.
Three things to know:
1. This 35-year-old is the youngest candidate in the race and gets called “fresh-faced” or “baby-faced” or something like that in nearly every story that’s written about him. Despite that, he does have experience. He started working in the Philadelphia Office of the District Attorney right after law school, focusing largely on homicide and special victims. He resigned in February 2016 to go into private practice before declaring his run for DA.
2. O’Neill’s entrance into the race was a surprise. He filed 1,776 nominating petitions the day they were due. He told City&State PA that he didn’t want to run against Williams, but got into the race after Williams announced he wouldn’t be seeking reelection.
3. He’s getting most of his support from labor unions. The Building a Better Pennsylvania Fund reportedly spent $144,000 in a week to put toward TV commercials supporting O’Neill. That PAC was established in 2014 and was bankrolled largely by Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, one of the most powerful unions in the city (and one that’s under federal investigation). Why’d Local 98 — run by union boss John Dougherty — support O’Neill? An anonymous source told City&State PA that: “It’s an Irish thing.”
Policy priorities: O’Neill split his policy priorities into four main sections:
1. Reduce violence by expanding focused deterrence, supporting City Council legislation on gun laws and taking on gun stores and gun shows.
2. Address sexual assault and domestic violence by overseeing a system that gives victims a voice. O’Neill said he wants to assign an assistant district attorney to every survivor the moment they come in contact with law enforcement.
3. End mass incarceration by expanding diversionary programs like Accelerated Misdemeanor Programs, Drug Treatment Court, Future Forward and The Choice is Yours.
4. Reform the bail and detainer system by ending cash bail for low-level offenders and instructing attorneys to not have detainers lodged against low-level offenders.
Who supports this candidate:
- Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA13)
- State Rep. Kevin Boyle
- City Controller Alan Butkovitz
- City Commissioner Lisa Deeley
- State Rep. Michael Driscoll
- City Councilman Bobby Henon
- State Rep. Ed Neilson
- Margaret Tartaglione, 62nd Ward Leader
- Sprinkler Fitters Local 692
- Plumbers Local 690
- Reinforced Iron Workers Riggers and Machinery Movers Local 405
- I.A.T.S.E. Local 8
- IAFF Local 22
- Elevator Constructors Local 5
- Insulators and Allied Workers Local 14
- Ironworkers Local 401
- Communication Workers of America
- Roofers Local 30
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
District attorney – Republican
Unless someone wages a crazy unexpected write-in campaign, Grossman will more than likely be the Republican nominee for district attorney. In November, she’ll face off against the winner of the Democratic primary.
Beth Grossman
You know her as: The only Republican running in the primary! Most recently, she was chief of staff at the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Her bio in 140 or less: Ex-L&I chief of staff and former assistant district attorney. Running in Philly as a Republican. Civil asset forfeiture is my jam.
Three things to know:
1. Grossman graduated from Temple’s Beasley School of Law in 1993 and that year got a job as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia. She’s worked in a number of divisions within the office over the years.
2. By 2007, she became Chief of the Public Nuisance Task Force, meaning she worked to shut down nuisance bars and target abandoned lots. But that group also oversaw civil asset forfeiture program, the controversial practice of seizing assets from the accused and using them to prop up the Office’s budget. Grossman told Philly Mag she still strongly supports civil asset forfeiture.
3. Grossman is an ex-Democrat who switched parties in 2013. She told Philly Mag: “I became a Philadelphia Republican because I think we need a better political balance in the city because when it’s so one-sided, it creates an unhealthy imbalance and people tend to get into trouble.”
Policy priorities:
1. Run an ethical office: Like many of the Democratic candidates, Grossman has been critical of the job Williams did while in office. She promised to not accept gifts if elected DA.
2. Explore and implement diversionary programs.
3. Work to address quality-of-life issues through creative or environmental solutions rather than continuing to make small arrests of low-level, non-violent offenders.
Who supports this candidate:
- Philly Set Go, a millennial PAC based in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Black Republican Ward Leaders Caucus
How to find out more: Visit her website here.
City Controller – Democrats
The City Controller is basically the top dog in charge of auditing the local government and serving as a fiscal watchdog. They’re the “check” in “checks and balance,” if you will. There are two candidates, incumbent Alan Butkovitz and challenger Rebecca Rhynhart. The only polling we’ve seen is courtesy of Rhynhart’s campaign, which says a poll taken two weeks ago shows the two competitors in a “statistical tie” with more than half of voters still undecided.
Rebecca Rhynhart
You know her as: The ex-Chief Administrative Officer under Mayor Jim Kenney and the former City Treasurer and Budget Director under Mayor Nutter.
Her bio in 140 or less: City Controller candidate and former City Treasurer. Loves fiscal policy. Somehow always cheerful.
One big thing to know: Rhynhart’s obviously critical of Butkovitz. But she’s coming in on a “reform” platform, one that stresses not just drawing attention to problems in city government — Butko loves press conferences! — but also identifying solutions. She also criticized Butkovitz for not aggressively auditing the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Policy priorities:
1. Spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently and effectively.
2. Increase transparency of city government by releasing data to the public.
3. Improve performance of pension fund investments.
Who supports this candidate:
- Former Gov. Ed Rendell
- Millennials in Action
- Laborers’ District Council of Philadelphia
- National Organization for Women
- Philadelphia Inquirer
- Black Clergy of Philadelphia
How to find out more: Visit her website here.
Alan Butkovitz
You know him as: “Butko.” Also, the current Philadelphia City Controller who made a name for himself by getting into pretty public spats with former Mayor Michael Nutter.
His bio in 140 or less: Current Philadelphia City Controller. Forever @Michael_Nutter enemy.
One big thing to know: Butkovitz is the party establishment favorite here. He’s the incumbent, is a ward leader and a former state representative, and has some labor union backing. Also, he loves to start fights.
Policy priorities: Butkovitz hasn’t laid out any major policy changes for his office, but he has highlighted his accomplishments, including most recently auditing the Mayor’s Fund of Philadelphia and identifying misspent funds.
Who supports this candidate:
- Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO
- Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks
- Philadelphia Democratic Party
- Philadelphia Building Trades Council
- SEIU 32BJ
- AFSCME DC33, 47 and 1199C
- Philadelphia Tribune
- Americans for Democratic Action
- Philadelphia Public Record
How to find out more: Visit his website here.
City Controller – Republican
Republicans only have one choice in this primary: Mike Tomlinson, a certified public accountant from Holmesburg. He’s vowed to audit the School District of Philadelphia and the city pension fund. He’ll face off against either Butkovitz or Rhynhart in November.
Judicial races
Judicial elections in Pennsylvania can feel complicated. So many names, so little information about the people running. Below are all the names you’ll see on the ballot, as well as a notation if the Philadelphia Bar Association or the Pennsylvania Bar Association has rated their candidacy. You can read more about that process here.
Justice of the PA Supreme Court – Democrats
- Dwayne Woodruff – Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
Justice of the Supreme Court – Republicans
- Sallie Mundy – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
Judge of the Superior Court – Democrats
- Carolyn H Nichols – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Geoff Moulton – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Maria Mclaughlin – Highly recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Debbie Kunselman – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Bill Caye – Not recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
Judge of the Superior Court – Republicans
- Emil Giordano – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Craig Stedman – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Wade A Kagarise – Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Mary Murray
- Paula A Patrick – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
Judge of the Commonwealth Court – Democrats
- Timothy Barry – Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Joe Cosgrove – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Ellen Ceisler – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Todd Eagen – Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Irene M Clark – Not recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Bryan Barbin – Recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
Judge of the Commonwealth Court – Republicans
- Paul Lalley
- Christine Fizzano Cannon – Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association
Judge of the Court Of Common Pleas – Democrats
- Stella Tsai – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Vikki Kristiansson – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Deborah Cianfrani – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- John Macoretta – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Rania Major – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Henry Mcgregor Sias – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Lawrence J Bozzelli – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Vincent Furlong – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Brian Mclaughlin – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Shanese Johnson – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Mark B Cohen – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Daniel R Sulman – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Leon Goodman – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Deborah Canty – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Wendi Barish – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Leonard Deutchman – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Zac Shaffer – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Jennifer Schultz – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Vincent Melchiorre – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Jon Marshall – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- David Conroy – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Mark J Moore – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Danyl S Patterson – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Terri M Booker – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Lucretia C Clemons – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Crystal B Powell – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Bill Rice – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
Judge of the Court Of Common Pleas – Republicans
- Vincent Furlong – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
Judge of the Municipal Court – Democrats
- Matt Wolf – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Marissa Brumbach – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- George Twardy – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Jon Marshall – Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Sherman Toppin – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
- Bill Rice – Not recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association
Ballot questions
Question 1
How the question will look on the ballot: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to allow for the award of certain contracts based on best value to the City?
The city’s “plain English” statement: This proposed amendment would allow the City’s Procurement Commissioner to award some contracts based on the overall “best value” to the City, rather than based only on dollars. In other words, the City would be allowed to choose a responsible business based on more than just price.
Currently, when the City buys things like equipment or construction services, the Home Rule Charter requires the City to choose the responsible business that offers the lowest price. Similarly, when the City allows a private business to operate on City property, the Charter usually requires the City to choose the responsible business that offers the City the highest payment. This amendment would allow the City to use “best value” in awarding contracts under certain circumstances.
For example, a City department might need to find a business to perform complicated maintenance services. If the Procurement Commissioner determines that there are unique aspects of the purchase that makes price not the best predictor of value, the City can make the purchase based on “best value,” rather than price alone.
“Best value” evaluation criteria could include things like a business’s past performance on similar work, including the quality of the services or products delivered by the business; or its ability to meet diversity goals; as well as price. These “evaluation criteria” would be listed in regulations, as well as included in advertisements (which are used for contracts worth more than $32,000). All “best value” purchases would be subject to the same rules as apply to purchases of professional services.
Question 2
How the question will look on the ballot: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for the creation of a Philadelphia Community Reinvestment Commission to be charged with recommending coordinated community reinvestment strategies for the City of Philadelphia by identifying opportunities for public, private, and philanthropic entities to collaborate and leverage their resources for the public good?
The city’s “plain English” statement: This proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter would establish a new Commission, the Philadelphia Community Reinvestment Commission. The Commission would be composed of 21 members: 12 members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council; three Councilmembers, selected by Council; the Council President; and five additional City officials, by virtue of the positions in City government they hold.
The Commission would develop and recommend to the Mayor and Council coordinated community reinvestment strategies to leverage private, public and philanthropic resources for the public good . The Commission would be authorized to establish committees comprised of members and others selected by the Commission, to assist in executing its mission.
