PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Eighty candidates are currently slated to be on Philadelphia’s Democratic primary ballot … and that’s just for city offices. There will also be dozens of judicial candidates.
So how is a voter supposed to choose? Well, the election watchdog group Committee of Seventy has some tips.
Lauren Cristella, the committee’s interim director, says the key is to approach the election like it’s a job interview, to avoid getting mired in rhetoric.
“I think it’s important to think of the candidates as though you are the hiring manager and they are applying for a job because it’s true,” Cristella said. “They’re looking to work for you, to serve you as a citizen of Philadelphia.”
She says the issues for mayor are clear, public safety is pre-eminent and many of the candidates have proposed solutions, but there are no silver bullets, so the unifying criteria for judging a candidate is accountability.
“All of them are saying a safer Philadelphia, a cleaner, greener Philadelphia, right, these are the things we’re hearing over and over again,” Cristella said.
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“It’s not going to happen overnight, so what is your plan to take steps and show Philadelphians the progress or challenges you’re hitting along the way?”
“What is this mayor going to make sure that they’re delivering, that they’re showing what they’re doing, showing their work and their government is held accountable.”
She says criteria differs for other offices differ, but Democratic voters can keep the job interview metaphor in mind as they consider the 29 council at-large candidates, five Register of Wills hopefuls, four would-be sheriffs and three candidates for City Controller.
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“Which of the 29 council at-large candidates, for example, might stand up to district council members on development? Which Sheriff’s candidate is most likely to do what all have promised – clean up the office?"
"And for City Commissioner, who has experience running elections? That would only be the incumbents … but then, only the incumbents are running.”