"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.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR: The reality is that some of what we do requires resources. In order to communicate with voters and help the Republican Party grow in Philadelphia we need your help.

To that end, we are having a fundraising reception:

Date: Wednesday, May 13

Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: 4256 Regent Square, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Tickets are $50.00. VIP Tickets are $100.00. You can buy tickets or contribute online by going HERE: TICKET LINK

You can also bring a contribution to the event or do it the old fashioned way by writing a check made out to "The University City Republican Committee," putting it in an envelope and addressing the envelope to:

University City Republican Committee

c/o Matthew Wolfe

4256 Regent Square

Philadelphia, PA 19104

We hope that you can make it. If you haven't been to our house before, it is easy to get to and there is usually adequate parking. It is on the 11, 13, 34 & 36 trolley lines at 43rd Street.

If you need further information or have questions, you can contact any of the ward leaders below:

Matt Wolfe

27th Ward

Matthew@Wolfe.org

(215) 387-7300

Craig Melidosian

40th Ward

Craigsolve@aol.com

(215) 868-1268

Denise Furey

46th Ward

Denise.Furey@Wolfe.org

(215) 266-4121

Andrew Gentsch

51st Ward

Agent3@earthlink.net

(267) 246-3536

WILLIAM SMALL, REPUBLICAN WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS: Meet William Small: VoteWilliamSmall.com/About. No Republican filed to run for Congress in the 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses most of Philadelphia west of Broad Street. William is making the effort. You will need to write his name in! Write in campaigns are challenging. We will need 1,000 Republicans to take the time. If he does not prevail, the the voters may not have a choice.

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 help 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.

Here is a sample ballot for the 3rd Congressional District and 192nd Legislative District in West Philly. There are different layouts across the city. We can send you a ballot especially for you. Generally, vote for Garrity for Governor and Richey for Lt. Governor. Vote for this State Committee slate. If these names do not appear, vote for all on the ballot. Vote for all unopposed Republicans and write in where no one is running.

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 LITIGATION BELOW). 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, and Aaron Bashir is running a write-in effort for State Senate in the 2nd District. Vote for 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.

LITIGATION UPDATE: We are fighting to expand the Republican Party organization in the city. We told you about the lawsuit we filed against the Philadelphia County Board of Elections in our last edition. They want to break with 89-years of past practice to make it harder to get elected Committeeperson (Member of Ward Executive Committee). Well, WE WON! The judge ordered that whoever gets the most votes wins. Seems simple, but that's what we're fighting for. Republican City Chairman Vince Fenerty has joined with Democratic Chairman Bob Brady to try and make it harder to be elected a Committeeperson. Why? You'll have to ask him, but the evidence is that we have fewer people running for Committeeperson under his "leadership" than we have had in anyone's lifetime who is still active. It seems he is more concerned with getting reelected chairman than he is in building a stronger Republican Party in Philadelphia. He had an appeal filed to Commonwealth Court, so we'll see what they say about it.

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.

5/12 - Tuesday

Deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot

5/13 - Wednesday 6:30 PM-9:30 PM

University City Republican Committee Spring Reception

4256 Regent Square, Phila. 19104

$50

5/14 - Wednesday 6PM-8PM

66th & 57th Ward fundraiser

4131 Rhawn St., Phila. 19136

$50

5/14 - Wednesday 7PM-9PM

Robyn Bird for State Representative fundraiser

Port Richmond Pub

2601 E. Venango St., Phila.

$50

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