There is something happening this year in Philadelphia politics. There are a ton of good people running for city council. There are some incumbents offering new ideas—Jim Kenney’s proposal for a citywide 311 system comes to mind—but the real story this year is the challengers.
We’re really seeing the future of Philadelphia politics unfold. A lot of the challengers might not win this time around, but I have no doubt that people like Halie Johnston, Matt Ruben, and Maria Quinones Sanchez will play a major role in the future of Philadelphia. It would be impossible to write about everyone, but here is my take on a couple of key races.
There are several in particular that I think are exciting. I will write why below. As you read, keep in mind that I don’t actually live in Philadelphia—I’m a student at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. I try to follow Philly politics closely, but I mostly rely on the telephone and e-mail to know what’s going on. Take everything I say with a grain of salt.
At-Large: There are a number of great at-large candidates, but I think Marc Stier offers a unique opportunity to build progressive power. As dozens of candidates try to court our votes, let’s remember that Marc has been there from the beginning. Marc has been a leader in local campaigns for both social justice and reform. He not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. If elected to council, Marc will undoubtedly be a dynamic force for change.
1st District: I have known Vern Anastasio for about three years—actually longer than I’ve been contributing to Young Philly Politics. We first met when I was working at AFSCME DC 47. Vern impressed me then with his energy and enthusiasm. Everyone knows that I am big geek for public policy and Vern is the kind of person that appeals to me. If elected, he won’t be afraid to roll up his sleeves and make stuff happen.
2nd District: Damon Roberts is on the cutting edge of Philadelphia politics. His campaign is talking about crime and poverty in a way that really drives home the problems with economic disparity in our city. Damon is a powerful voice for those often left behind by politics. Not to mention, Alex UA is running the campaign—so we’re bound to see some innovative campaign techniques that will benefit all progressive in the long run. Look for this race to be the surprise of the cycle.
7th District: Vote for Maria! Maria Quiñones Sanchez is has been around for a while, but she is still a breath of fresh air. She has a strong record of accomplishment and will bring great leadership to city council. She’s got great political instincts and is a tireless campaigner. Her combination of experience in both government and the private sector will make her a great addition to city council.
8th District: Irv Ackelsberg has something that few challengers have: a record. Irv has spent the last 30 years fighting for working Philadelphians. If elected to council, he’ll scare the hell out of every corrupt scam artist (like Tom Knox) who tries to make money ripping off poor people. There are a couple of good candidates running against Donna Reed Miller (Cindy Bass, Greg Paulmier), but Irv is the one who will fight the hardest for Philadelphia. Go Irv!
Those are my picks. As I said, there are a ton of great people running this cycle. It would be impossible to mention them all. These are just the races that I think are particularly exciting, well-organized, and competitive.
(Disclaimer: I am currently working as a consultant for Marc Stier’s campaign)