"If these taxes are enacted and approved by our council, this will be the largest new recurring local revenue source for the School District of Philadelphia since we enacted the sales tax and the cigarette tax, and that was $120 million in annual revenue from the sales tax and $83 million, respectively,"

Democratic Mayor Cherelle Parker, incredibly, bragging about raising your taxes in her proposed budget.

CITY COMMISSIONERS, DEMOCRATS AND - INCREDIBLY - REPUBLICANS TRY AND LIMIT PARTICIPATION IN PARTY ACTIVITIES: For 89 years the City Commissioners have certified candidates for Committeeperson who get the most votes as the winners. Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it?

Well, this year the Commissioners voted that they will not certify candidates whose votes come as write-in votes as winning unless they receive a minimum of 10 votes, even if they receive the most votes. This could mean that a candidate who is on the ballot who gets only one vote can beat a candidate who gets nine write-in votes.

Does this make sense to you? Me neither. More importantly, I believe it to be a misinterpretation of the Election Code. Even if that’s what the Election Code required, you don’t have to be a constitutional scholar to see that this application raises an obvious issue regarding the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Free and EQUAL Elections Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

This is particularly devastating to the Republican Party. The Democrats have lots of vacancies, but out of 3,406 committeeperson positions citywide, Republicans have only filed to fill 307 of them. In 24 wards there are no candidates at all.

So we sued the County Board of Elections. Below is a link to my motion and memo. Give it a read and tell us what you think.

LAWSUIT AGAINS CITY COMMISSIONERS LINK

We must be on the right track. Both Democratic City Committee and Republican City Committee have retained counsel and intervened to oppose this lawsuit.

MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION! We have an important race for Governor this year. The eyes of the nation will be on Pennsylvania. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro cares more about Pennsylvania Avenue than Pennsylvania. He has never finished his final term of any office he has had, and his plan is to use his office as a launching pad for President. Republican State Treasurer ONLY wants to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians. Shapiro will be tough to beat, but Garrity received more votes than any candidate in Pennsylvania history in 2024 being reelected. We need your halp to get her elected.

Garrity does not have an opponent, but several members of her team do. She needs your help to put into place the team to help her win. She needs Jason Richey as her Lt. Governor. Also contested are positions on the Republican State Committee. It is important that the full slate be elected to promote Garrity and Philadelphia's interests. Vote for Ross Michael Wolfe, Billy Lanzilotti, Anthony Christina, Marjilynn Murray and Denise Furey.

There are also blank spaces on the ballot. Unfortunately the local Republican Party had only limited success recruiting candidates for local office. ANOTHER REASON WHY WE NEED TO EXPAND THE PARTY ORGANIZATION BY PERMITTING REPUBLICANS TO WRITE-IN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON (SEE LAWSUIT ABOVE). Regardless, don't leave the space blank. Write in some Republican for the position. Never give up.

If you are in the 192nd State House District in West Philly, support Tiffany Vann.

While we are based in West Philly, we recognize that this goes to other areas. If you are in the 5th Congressional District, vote for Nick Manganaro for Congress. In that district, the other races are the same as on the sample ballot above. If you are in the 2nd Congressional District, support Jessica Arriaga for Congress. For State Senate we have Rev. Todd Johnson running for State Senate in the 4th District, State Representative Martina White in the 170th District, Robyn Bird in the 177th District and Bill Griffin in the 173rd District. These candidates, as well as the candidates for the Republican State Committee, are unopposed in the primary, but your votes help. There are areas there where we did not field candidates, so if there is a blank, write-in a Republican.

RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON: In every precinct in the city, there should be two Republican and two Democratic Committeepeople. They are up for election in this primary election. Their job is to connect with the voters in their precinct on the grass roots level and turn out the vote for Republican candidates. They should be involved in their communities. They elect ward leaders, work directly with candidates and help dictate policy for the city Republican Party.

If you are not already on the ballot, to run for Committeeperson, you mount a write-in campaign.  It is a matter of pressing the Write-in Button across from the “Member of Ward Executive Committee” line (formal name for

Committeeperson), typing out the name and pressing the “accept” button.  It is even more simple with a mail-ballot.  Just fill in the name on the Write-in line.

It is possible to win with only one vote, but always better to put in some work and get your neighbors to vote for you too.

QUESTIONS: Yes, City Council has put two questions on the ballot. Question 1 would let City Council create an entity to create a retirement fund for private employers who do not have one available to them. The idea has some merit. This proposal would let City Council appoint politicians to the board. What could go wrong? We recommend a Hell No! on this question. Question 2 would amend the City Charter to create an office of some kind that they do not need an amendment to the City Charter to create. It is another example of City Council pandering to some new group this year. We recommend a No vote on this also.

REGISTER TO VOTE: It is never too early to register to vote Republican. A Democrat who has come to your senses? An independent who wants to actually make a difference? Changed your address? Changed your name? CLICK HERE TO REGISTER REPUBLICAN. Don't care about Philadelphia? Think it's a good idea to defund the police? Have open borders? Leave Americans and our allies behind for the Taliban to torture? Have boys who identify as girls dominating girls sports? OK with high taxes either because you don't pay 'em or because you're rich? Think "Safe Injection Sites" are a good idea? Think government knows better than you and are willing to give up liberty so you don't have to think? CLICK HERE TO REGISTER DEMOCRATIC.

4/23 - Thursday, 6-9 PM

Young Republicans Happy Hour

Chickie's and Pete's, 1526 Packer Ave.

Light food provided, cash bar

4/23 - Thursday, 6-8PM

State Rep. Martina White Reception

Colonial Dames Society, 1630 Latimer St., Phila.

$150

4/28 - Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 PM

City Commissioner Seth Bluestein Reception

Yards Brewing Co., 500 Spring Garden St., Phila.

$100

5/4 - Monday

Deadline to register Republican before the Primary

5/5 - Tuesday

Young Republican Happy Hour

5/12 - Tuesday

Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot

5/19 - Tuesday

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY

Vote Early and Often

Polls open 7AM-8PM

Post-election reception at 4256 Regent Square, Phila.

5/20 - Wednesday

Young Republicans NE Philly Happy Hour and Post Election Reception

10/19 - Monday

Deadline to register Republican before the General Election

10/27 - Tuesday

Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot

11/3 - Tuesday

GENERAL ELECTION DAY

Vote Early and Often

Polls open 7AM-8PM

Post-election reception at 4256 Regent Square, Phila.

The University City Trumpet is a publication of the University City Republican Committee in Philadelphia. It is published whenever we want to publish it and it contains whatever we want to put in it, although generally it contains information that we think will be of interest to Republicans in University City. Feel free to pass it along to a friend (or to an enemy). If you want to be put on our subscription list or want to be taken off, let us know at Matthew@Wolfe.org. Copyright 2026