Phillies preseason kicks off this weekend! (Instagram/@paulkleimanphoto)

Why Philadelphia candidates are rushing to collect signatures

It’s crunch time for mayoral and Council candidates as they face their first real tests ahead of the primary: Getting their names on the ballot

  • Voter signatures on nominating petitions — 1,000 for mayor or at-large, 750 for a district seat — must be submitted by March 7. And they have to be solid enough to withstand challenges by opponents’ lawyers.

Four years ago, Meir Rinde reports, both would-be challengers to Darrell Clarke had to end their bids for office after they were dinged for errors.

→ The field is about to thin 

A sign marking the polling place at Ben Franklin High School on North Broad Street (Danya Henninger/Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney joins Temple University officials at PPD headquarters for an update on the shooting that killed Ofc. Christopher Fitzgerald, and the subsequent investigation and arrest of the 18-year-old from Bucks County (10 a.m.). 

ON THE CALENDAR

🍺 Billy Penn Quizzo: Our monthly trivia night is back! We’re at Attic Brewing in Germantown this month, with three rounds of questions, happy hour specials, and great prizes for the winners. Free RSVP here. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28)

🏊🏽 Willing to get cold and wet to help Philadelphia public pools open? The first Philly Phreeze polar plunge happens at Kelly Pool in Fishtown, with all proceeds supporting lifeguard recruitment. (12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25)

🍻 The German Society’s annual Philly Bierfest features dozens of lagers, kolsches, bocks, and weizens at its historic headquarters on Spring Garden Street. All-you-can-drink tickets are $59, or $25 gets you in as a designated driver. (2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25)

Catch up on the previous week

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