Terry Tracy, the Republican candidate for city controller, wants to be held accountable for the state of the School District of Philadelphia if he is elected on Nov. 5.
“As school auditor, my top priority will be to ensure every penny possible is dedicated to the classroom,” he said. “Parents deserve to have specific visibility to how our billions are spent in this time of fiscal distress. As I have spoken with parents across the city, there is one common theme: they don’t feel their kids are always the priority.”
Tracy, who is challenging incumbent Democratic controller Alan Butkovitz, plans a comprehensive, independent review of the school district’s finances and a mass-published, accessible budget to the public, as the Home Rule Charter requires. He also wants to break the cycle of what he calls “knee-jerk” tax increases.
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The United Mine Workers of America has endorsed U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz in next year’s Democratic primary for governor.
Schwartz has supported the union’s efforts to improve safety standards and health benefits.
“We have worked with Allyson for years, and she has always stood up for working men and women. That’s why we enthusiastically support her for governor of Pennsylvania. Of all the candidates running, she stands out,” said Ed Yankovich, vice president of UMWA International District 2.
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The voter registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 7, for the November general election.
Registration forms are available at PennDOT driver’s license centers, armed forces recruitment centers and the Philadelphia County Board of Elections office at 520 N. Delaware Ave., fifth floor.
Or, forms can be downloaded at the Committee of Seventy’s website, www.seventy.org
Photo identification is needed only for first-time voters and those voting in a new division.
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Tom Knox, a potential 2015 mayoral candidate, has hired the firm of Brabender Cox to provide strategic campaign communications services.
Managing partner and chief creative officer John Brabender has handled campaigns for president, governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and state attorney general. Knox is the former deputy mayor for management and productivity under then-Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell. He finished second to Michael Nutter in the hotly contested 2007 Democratic mayoral primary.
Brabender Cox is most closely associated with Republican candidates for political office.
“My own political leanings are moderate,” Brabender said. “What attracted our firm to Tom Knox’s candidacy was his somewhat rare combination of being socially liberal, yet fiscally responsible. Those are the characteristics that Philadelphia needs in its next leader. As a product of the city’s housing projects, Tom has great empathy for the city’s poor and underprivileged. As an accomplished businessman, Tom understands the importance of managing a budget and reducing waste and overhead.” ••
