Mike Driscoll won a seat in City Council on Tuesday, while Jim Dillon earned a trip to Harrisburg as the newest member of the state Senate.
Meanwhile, Democrats Pat Gallagher and Anthony Bellmon won primaries for state representative and likely face no opposition in the general election.
Driscoll, a state representative, was unopposed in the 6th Councilmanic District special election and will succeed fellow Democrat Bobby Henon. He plans to focus on crime, illegal ATVs and property taxes.
“We can’t tax these seniors out of their homes,” he said at his victory party at the Ashburner.
Gallagher also celebrated his win in the Ashburner parking lot. Others in the crowd included Henon, city elections commissioner Lisa Deeley, former congressman Bob Borski and former Republican House Speaker John Perzel.
“This is a victory for Northeast Philadelphia,” Henon said.
Gallagher, Driscoll’s chief of staff, declared victory at about 10 p.m. He defeated 64th Ward Democratic leader Pete McDermott with 64 percent of the vote. He was also elected a committeeman in the 65th Ward, 14th Division. He thanked the 41st, 57th and 65th wards, unions and others for their support.
“Thank you to everybody,” said Gallagher, who could join the House as soon as August if a special election is called when Driscoll resigns to join Council.
Meanwhile, at District Council 21, Dillon declared victory in the 5th Senatorial District special election shortly after 11 p.m. He was introduced by his brother, Shawn, who was the original Democratic candidate before having to drop out of the race when his campaign failed to file a statement of financial interest with the state ethics commission. Henon and former City Controller Alan Butkovitz were among those cheering on Dillon.
Dillon won 56 percent against Republican Sam Oropeza. He thanked his family and unions, describing Shawn as his idol and role model and declaring, “I’ll be for the Northeast.”
“Nothing great is achieved alone,” said Dillon, adding that one of his top issues will be teaming up with Sen. Tina Tartaglione to raise the minimum wage to $15.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle congratulated the three candidates he endorsed and campaigned for: Dillon, Bellmon and Rep. Kevin Boyle, his brother.
“I am proud to have appeared in TV ads or mailers for each of these three outstanding candidates, as well as campaign for them door to door,” said Boyle, who joined Bellmon and his brother at Nick’s Roast Beef on Cottman Avenue. “Each of these candidates put in the long hours needed to win tough campaigns.”
Bellmon took 47 percent in the 203rd district, followed by Heather Miller with 28 percent and Yusuf Jackson with 24 percent.
Kevin Boyle received 68 percent against Bob Stewart. He will face Republican Al Taubenberger and independent Tedi Kotori in the general election.
Brendan Boyle will face Republican Aaron Bashir in the general election.
State Rep. Joe Hohenstein will face Republican Mark LaVelle.
Also on Tuesday, all four city ballot questions passed overwhelmingly, although many Northeast wards rejected the ones calling for removal of gender-based references in the Home Rule Charter and Educational Supplement.
As for the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Mehmet Oz leads Dave McCormick by 997 votes, with the counting continuing. If Dr. Oz holds on, he can thank the Northeast. He won all 14 wards and beat McCormick, 6,000 to 3,832, in the Northeast. ••
