PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia voters may once again be asked to eliminate the provision in the city charter that requires city officials to resign before they can run for another office. A bill introduced in City Council last week would put the question on the ballot next year.
Voters have twice rejected changing the resign-to-run charter provision — the only two times this century that they’ve voted “no” on ballot questions. However, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas thinks the time is ripe to ask again.
“When you look at the results of recent elections and you look at the fact that we have some amazing, talented people on City Council, it would benefit not just Philadelphia but the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if council members had a little more flexibility,” he said.
Thomas believes the rule has kept Philadelphia officials from competing for higher jobs. “When you look at statewide seats across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, very rarely do you see folks from Philadelphia occupy those statewide seats.”
The city charter includes the resign-to-run rule to prevent elected officials from using their influence — or employees — to get an upper hand in seeking another office, and to guarantee taxpayers are getting the official’s full effort.
Resigning to run can indeed be a barrier for Philadelphia elected officials who might want to seek higher office — but not always. Last year, six council members resigned to run for mayor, creating openings for new blood on council. Thomas sees this as bolstering his position.
“While we have some great members on City Council who replaced those folks, I think we lost a lot of talented, intelligent and phenomenal people who had the passion, the experience and the heart to serve the city,” he argued.
Thomas said if the referendum passes council, he’ll campaign to get it passed this time.
Philadelphia voters have shown repeatedly that they like the resign-to-run rule. In 2007 and again in 2015, they rejected ballot questions asking to eliminate it.
The question could also add interest to next year’s elections for district attorney, city controller and judges — races that normally attract very low turnout.