The Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates — Primary Vote Today, May 16
As is recent tradition, it’s more than likely the Democratic winner of the primary will be the next Mayor of Philadelphia.
Unlike past elections, there’s no clear front-runner. It feels like a good problem with five candidates who all show potential to be very good for this city. Who knows what the future holds but I think most would agree it’s a good field.
Debates & Information
It’s refreshing to see this kind of extensive platforming provided for the candidates and the many issues that need addressing.
1-2 hour-long forums are available on the following:
Gun Violence / Quality of Business & Center City / Hospitality & Tourism
Philadelphia Citizen Ultimate Interviews
* find your polling place & confirm your registration *
In alphabetical order:
Jeff Brown
Businessman (Grocer)
A successful business owner who believes in budget reallocation and backed by the Philadelphia Police Department, Jeff Brown has no political experience but has emerged as one of the five front runners of the Mayor race. Some see the lack of political experience as a plus, considering he’s not a career politician trying to climb the ladder; others see the inexperience as a problem.
It’s not that he’s unfamiliar with policy and Philadelphia legislation, but he openly plans on leaning on those around him to offer insight and dive into the weeds. He does have significant experience managing large groups of people in various ways, both as a CEO of a large corporation with 2300 employees and smaller non-profit ventures.
His famous claim early in the race was to remove abandoned cars and clean up the trash that picks up in whirlwinds in parts of the city on windy days. Being endorsed by a sanitation workers union is a good start on a claim that seems nearly impossible.
He has been criticized for manipulating voters into thinking the Obama’s back him (they don’t) and for a “brown-face” ad in a predominantly black area.
Allan Domb
City Council At-Large
Poised, a good public speaker, clear on messaging, knows his shit. Domb has received more funding than any other candidate by a signficant margin. The money flowing in could be a combination of lobbying and corporations betting on the best candidate, along with his own bankroll as a real-estate mogul in the area. He also has a very forward approach to education and an impressive financial track record in his work with the city. Domb has focused on altering the city's tax structure; one of his bills provided wage-tax refunds to low-income Philadelphians.
A strong supporter of police, Domb wants to increase recruitment and community engagement by putting more officers on foot. His current stance on finance is similar to Brown’s, in which he has proven success of finding money in mismanaged City of Philadelphia budgets to bring more money into the city in order to pay for public safety programs.
On Day 1 as Mayor, he has said that he will declare a State of Emergency for gun violence in the City as well as a Public Health Emergency for Kensington.
Helen Gym
City Council At-Large
Gym has a ton of experience in education, labor, and housing. She’s known as Philly’s AOC (and has been endorsed by her, along with the likes of Bernie Sanders) but is more conservative in nature. She’s earned endorsements from the teachers’ union along with several progressive organizations, and the Working Families Party.
One of her particular goals is to create a safer route to and from school for children with a new initiative. She wants to ensure police budget increases are spent effectively and that community engagement efforts are inclusive of the police force, not in lieu of them. She also wants to bring Citizen Core back and partner with community groups to clean up the city.
For the most part, she’s been publicly praised besides an infamous denouncing of the Union League, showing up there a week later, then publicly apologizing for it.
Cherrelle Parker
City Council
If I had to pick one candidate who I think actually gives a damn, it would be Cherrelle Parker. She is the longest-serving official in the race. There is passion and frustration in her voice. Pride in her past work. Big ideas for the future.
She has been endorsed by Mayor Kenney and former candidates Derek Green and Maria Quinos-Sanchez, as well as several labor unions, and State Sen. Sharif Street and several ward leaders. She showcases a clear ability to separate prideful community issues with solutions that benefit the city — i.e. her proclamation of a zero tolerance policy for those that abuse power, especially in the police force, but also plans to hire more police officers and utilize every tool available to curb gun violence, including forensics, surveillance, and even holds an open mind stop-and-frisk.
I take minor issue with how often she refers to herself in third person. It feels egotistic—not a trait I love in Mayors & Presidents, despite it being a naturally common genetic trait for those who do. But you can’t argue with the decades of experience.
Rebecca Rynheart
City Controller
A young political figure who continues her rise in the city’s political system and rake up endorsements from the likes of Ed Rendell, Michael Nutter, John Street, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She has a superior understanding of the budget and believes she can bring together the different parties necessary to improve public safety.
Wants to allow police officers to make arrests for disorderly conduct, rather than tickets, in order to de-escalate more dangerous and violent crimes that can follow. She also wants to create opportunities for those arrested, especially youths, with consequences in place for not acting on the opportunities provided.
Distant Candidates
Amen Brown
State Representative
Brown didn’t begin his campaign until after many of the early forums were held. Perhaps his goal was to make a splash in a field without a frontrunner but he was unable to stand out.
Like Domb and a few other candidates have pointed out, gun violence is being committed by a small percentage of individuals and Brown wants to use technological innovation to focus on those individuals and effectively utilize funds.
Rev. Warren Bloom
Businessman / Reverend
Although he seems passionate and has experience as a Philadelphian in just about every walk of life besides a councilman, Bloom doesn’t come across as someone with a true plan to improve the city, but rather a well-intentioned man who wants to help the City by stressing values rather than government action.
Ex. At a debate with other candidates, he said that his approach to getting illegal guns off the street is to connect with community groups… and prayer.
Bloom is a man of the people, block captain, reverend, business owner, and more, but he’s also a poor public speaker, inexperienced in actual city government matters.
Jimmy Deleon
Retired Judge
Decades of public service has provided Deleon a direct connection to the people, especially the criminal justice system.
Deleon is strong in his belief that he can make a significant impact on gun violence in Philadelphia with measures beginning in education at an early age through post-conviction of a crime.
One of his touted public policies is to ban social media from convicted criminals and give them a curfew.
Suspended Campaigns
Derek Green
City Council
Positive: Has previous success reaching across the aisle to get things done and wants to connect with DA’s office to make Philly a safer city.
Negative: Says “Philadelphia” weird.
Policy: Very focused on helping small businesses and has experience in doing so, as an owner and a councilman.
Maria Quinones Sanchez
City Councilwoman
Former community organizer, charter school founder, CEO at a young age. Well-rounded candidate.
Positive: Strong approach to improving community safetyy that’s focused on effective police resources and surveillance.
Negative: to increase population in Philadelphia and improve overall appearance she appears overly focused on center city.
Policy: First 100 days, she’ll improve the worst intersections in the city by cleaning them, adding cameras, and increase police activity.