Voters to Elect Philly Mayor, Council, Suburban Pa. and NJ Leaders

Off-year municipal elections will bring new faces to state and local government

Some changes are in store in the offices of a number of Philadelphia’s elected leadership.

There is a three-way race for Philadelphia Mayor. Democratic incumbent Michael Nutter is seeking a second term and facing challenges from Republican nominee Karen Brown and Independent Wali “Diop” Rahman.

Seven of the 17 members of Philadelphia City Council are leaving at the end of their current terms because of retirements or losing primary election challenges. The race for the seven At-Large seats, is among the most contentious. There are ten candidates, including the five Democratic incumbents, and five Republican challengers. The top seven vote-getters win, which preserves the city charter’s mandate for at least two non-majority party council members. The Republican incumbents won’t be back. Jack Kelly is retiring and Frank Rizzo didn’t make the final cut in the primary election to vie for another term.

Long-time City Commission Chairwoman Marge Tartaglione, a fixture in city politics and government for at least three decades, saw her reelection hopes end in the May primary. City Commissioners usually oversee elections, but the sitting Commissioners who are also running for reelection, Democrat Anthony Clark and Republican Joseph Duda are being temporarily replaced by two Common Pleas Court judges. Tartaglione who became ineligible to run based on her third-place primary finish, continues to act in her usual capacity. The other two candidates are Republican Al Schmidt and Democrat Stephanie Singer.

Philadelphia voters will also choose a new Sheriff, elect the Register of Wills and vote on a proposed city charter amendment to a create a reserve of money being called a “rainy day fund” for city financial emergencies.

In the Philadelphia suburbs local television has been peppered with campaign ads in the Montgomery County Commissioners race. Republicans Bruce Castor and Jenny Brown and Democrats Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards are the four candidates and the top three vote-getters will win. That ensures one seat for a minority party. Castor is the only incumbent seeking reelection.

The Bucks County Commissioners race is another fiery contest pitting Republicans Charles Martin and Robert Loughery against Democrats Diane Ellis-Marseglia and Det Ansinn. Martin, Loughery and Ellis-Marseglia are running for reelection.

Voters in New Jersey will elect all 40 state Senate and 80 state Assembly members on Nov. 8. Candidates have spent well over $12 million dollars combined to retain or gain their seats.

Municipal offices are also on county ballots across NJ. A statewide ballot issue is a non-binding referendum to legalize sports betting in Atlantic City and at race tracks, if a federal ban is lifted.

The fair elections, good government group Committee of Seventy has compiled information on the Philadelphia candidates and offices that can be found here.

Information from the Philadelphia City Commissioners office is available here.

Check for Pa. state election information here.

NJ state election information can be found here.

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