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February 18, 2023

May Primary: Glass ceiling under Billy Penn’s hat about to shatter?

The Inquirer highlighted this week that, “of its 99 mayors dating back to 1691, Philadelphia has never elected a woman.” The current mayoral field is already historic, with four women among the biggest names in the race: Cherelle Parker, Helen Gym, Maria Quiñones-Sánchez and Rebecca Rhynhart, and each of them boasts considerable experience, savvy and financial resources. This leads many to wonder whether Philadelphia will finally leave behind New York City as the only other major city in the country never to have put a woman in City Hall’s top post. As former U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz told the Inky: “What’s taking so long?”

Are you on the Annual Mail-in List?: If you checked the box for “Annual Mail-in Ballot Request” on a mail-in application in the past, you should have recently received a new paper application in the mail. If you want to vote by mail for the rest of the year, fill it out and return to your local election office (or apply online). If you want to cast a ballot on a voting machine at your polling place, don’t return the application

Before you vote: C70’s Philadelphia Primary Voter Guide is live, and stay tuned for our Interactive Voter Guide, where you’ll be able to build your own ballot, research candidates across the region, and make your plan to vote. Looking to engage others in your organization or network? Be sure to check out our nonpartisan WeVote resources and become a partner.

PA House to reopen: What’ll happen is anybody’s guess

New PA House Speaker Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) plans to gavel the 203-member body back into session Tuesday, and the Associated Press expects things to be “raucous.” The six members of Rozzi’s bipartisan Workgroup to Move Pennsylvania Forward have been hashing out legislative rules that must be passed before anything else can happen, but no one knows what to expect. Rozzi declared his intent to pass legislation for childhood sexual-assault victims, his priority issue since joining the General Assembly, but this won’t be possible until the chamber can agree on operating rules. The 102-101 margin between the parties will guarantee a steady drama.

Uncertainty Is certain. Plan accordingly: Last week’s three Allegheny County special elections gave Democrats a one-seat majority and the imminent resignation of a Northumberland Republican who won a State Senate special election will make this a two-seat edge for a time. This won’t be the last House vacancy created for the next two years, and each one will impact the evenly-divided chamber

Caught Our Eye

Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia. C70 Interim President Lauren Cristella and Kerry Sautner, Chief Learning Officer at the National Constitution Center, toured the recently opened exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution (running through Nov. 26), which explores the exceptional story of this family of Revolutionaries. Learn more

On Our Radar

Clarke stepping down? Philly’s powerful Council President hasn’t said that he’ll run again and hasn’t raised much money; now The Inquirer reports that his chief of staff Curtis Wilkerson has begun gathering signatures for the Fifth District seat, which Clarke has held since 1999.

#FixHarrisburg (Shapiro edition): PA’s new governor has gotten pushback for a Sixers-ticket freebie from a donor and his trip to the Super Bowl, paid for by a business-friendly nonprofit. Meanwhile, Spotlight PA’s Stephen Caruso reports that PA Reps. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) and Jared Solomon (D-Phila) will introduce legislation to ban gifts of over $50 and transportation & hospitality worth more than $500.

School-funding battles: Two states, three decades The Inquirer traces New Jersey’s political and legal battles over school funding since a landmark decision from its high court in 1990. And The Inky profiles public interest attorney Michael Churchill, who filed a lawsuit in 1991 that eventually led to last week’s ruling mandating equitable school funding in Pennsylvania.

Debt paid: A PA House bill would make it easier for ex-felons to vote by requiring them to register (or opt out) when they’re released from prison.

Petition drive underway: Don’t be surprised if you’re stopped in a public place by someone wanting your signature over the next three weeks. The nomination-petition window for the May primary began Tuesday, and candidates have until March 7 to obtain a certain number to get onto the ballot (for mayor and at-large council seats it’s 1000; 750 for district council seats). Signing doesn’t obligate you to vote for that candidate, but you must be a registered member of the candidate’s party and live in the proper jurisdiction (a Council district, for example) to sign, and you must write and print your name, insert your address and date the form. If anything’s amiss, your signature could be successfully challenged—and opposition candidates are happy to oblige.

Events

Philadelphia Citizen's Job Interviews with Mayoral Candidates

Feb. 21, 6:30-8:30 pm

Fitler Club Ballroom, 1 S. 24th St., Philadelphia

Join the Philadelphia Citizen for a series of public events where a panel of questioners with expertise in hiring—along with audience members—will interview the 2023 mayoral candidates using a job description created by the people of Philadelphia. Next up on Feb. 21st: Helen Gym and Cherelle Parker. RSVP.

Knight Media Forum, 2023

Wed., Feb. 22, 9 am-5:30 pm

Thurs., Feb. 23, 9 am-2:15 pm

Online

Join us at the 16th annual Knight Media Forum, the premier annual event for leaders in philanthropy, journalism and technology focusing on ways to overcome the financial and credibility challenges facing independent journalism, as reporters and editors provide citizens with accurate information and hold the powerful accountable. Together, we’ll learn from leading thinkers and practitioners, and foster efforts to strengthen, scale and sustain informed and engaged communities. Register.

Member-Exclusive C70 Policy Briefing

Thurs., Feb. 23, 12-12:30 pm

Online

Chief Policy Officer Pat Christmas will update C70 members on the local and state issues that Seventy is tracking, followed by a Q&A session. This event is just one of many that you’ll be able to access if you join C70's membership program. Reach out to C70 Civic Education Director Justin Villere (jvillere@seventy.org) for questions.

Conversation With Former Rep. Marjorie Margolies

Thurs., March 2, 5:30-7 pm

Temple University Center City

Room 320

1515 Market Street, Philadelphia

The League of Women Voters of Philadelphia and Temple's MPP program join C70 to host former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Margolies (D-PA). Marjorie will speak to her experiences as a mother of seven and a congresswoman, and will attempt to answer the question: "Can women have it all?" The event will be moderated by C70's Interim President & COO Lauren Cristella. Light refreshments will be offered and books will be available for purchase. The event is free to attend. Register

Get Involved

Come Work With Us! The Committee of Seventy Is Hiring a Western PA

Youth Civics Coordinator

C70’s Youth Civics Program brings a comprehensive Elections & Voting curriculum to classrooms across the Commonwealth. Lessons are supported by project-based activities like a mock election, student-candidate interviews, a 17+ poll-worker program and deliberative democracy activities for K-8th graders. C70 has received funding from Allegheny County, and we are pursuing additional funding in Greene, Washington and Fayette Counties. Learn More.

Seventy's membership program broadens, diversifies, and expands our community of champions of local democracy. Become a member and receive notification about Event signups, Annual Membership Impact Reports, C70 swag and Invitations to members-only experiences and receptions.

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