Philadelphians will go to the polls on Tuesday, with District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, seeking a second term. His opponent is Republican Chuck Peruto, a longtime defense attorney.
City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, a Democrat, is guaranteed a second four-year term, as she is unopposed.
Statewide, voters will elect a justice to the Supreme Court. The Democratic candidate is Philadelphian Maria McLaughlin, a Superior Court judge and wife of former Controller Jonathan Saidel. The Republican is Kevin Brobson, a Commonwealth Court judge.
The race for a seat on Superior Court is between Democrat Timika Lane, a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge, and Republican Megan Sullivan, a former deputy state attorney general.
Two seats are up on Commonwealth Court. The candidates are Democrats Lori Dumas, a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge, and David Spurgeon, an Allegheny County Common Pleas Court judge, and Republicans Stacy Wallace, a McKean County lawyer, and Drew Crompton, appointed to Commonwealth Court in 2019.
City voters will elect 12 judges to Common Pleas Court and five to Municipal Court. All candidates are Democrats. State Sen. John Sabatina Jr. will win a Common Pleas Court seat, leading to a special election for his Senate seat next year.
Voters will also decide whether to retain various judges on Superior, Commonwealth, Common Pleas and Municipal courts.
There are four proposed charter changes. They read:
• Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that would decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes?
• Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of a Department of Fleet Services, headed by a Commissioner, to manage all City-owned motor vehicles and City programs concerning alternative vehicle fuel initiatives?
• Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise provisions related to the civil service system, to allow the Personnel Director to determine the number of people on an eligible list from which a hiring or promotion decision may be made, and to determine the number of times a person may be passed over and remain eligible on such a list, all based on the position and the needs of the civil service program?
• Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to provide for a mandatory annual appropriation for the Housing Trust Fund?
City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker pushed to have the third question on the ballot. At present, civil service jobs and promotions are given to one of the top two scorers on standardized tests. Parker and others believe those tests discriminate against minorities. ••
