Terry Gillen, a former city Redevelopment Authority executive, last week dropped out of the race for mayor.
Gillen was seeking the Democratic nomination in the May 19 primary.
In a Jan. 2 Facebook posting, Gillen wrote that she had raised more than $225,000 from over 500 donors. That wasn’t enough.
“Although I am heartened by your commitment, it is unlikely that we will raise the money required to effectively communicate our message to voters in this fundraising environment. This decision was difficult because of the hundreds of supporters who have generously made donations, volunteered in the office and hosted house parties all over Philadelphia. But I feel that asking my supporters to donate more time, money and commitment cannot be justified under current circumstances,” she wrote.
Gillen will return all unspent campaign funds to her donors.
Gillen’s departure leaves three Democrats in the race. They are former District Attorney Lynne Abraham, state Sen. Anthony Williams and former city solicitor and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Trujillo.
Other possible candidates include City Council President Darrell Clarke, former state Sen. Milton Street, former city solicitor and Common Pleas Court Judge Nelson Diaz and Doug Oliver, a former spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter.
Possible Republican candidates are Melissa Murray Bailey, president of the Americas division of Universum, a global employer branding company; and Elmer Money, a Morrell Park resident, 66th Ward committeeman and fiscal distribution representative for the Abington Health Corporate Business Office. ••
