PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — This year’s race for City Council at-large holds high stakes for the city’s Republican Party. A third party has a chance of taking both of the seats reserved for a minority party, seats that have long been held by the GOP.
The Working Families Party got halfway there four years ago. Candidate Kendra Brooks took one of the minority at-large seats, and she says her record shows she deserves another term.
“I’m a proven coalition builder. I get things done in City Hall,” she said. “I’ve shown that Working Families deserves to have a seat at the table.”
This year, Brooks is back, with running mate Rev. Nicholas O’Rourke, hoping they both get elected on Tuesday, Nov. 7. “We’re representing folks who may not be deeply engaged in either party, and I think Working Families has brought something different into the electoral [process],” said Brooks.
O’Rourke says his values are more aligned with most Philadelphians than those of Republicans. “There [are] a lot of resources that we have been afforded and I believe that we need to have political will inside City Hall that is committed to making sure those resources are committed to those who are most suffering in our city,” he said.
They’ve raised an impressive $1 million, launched an ad campaign and gathered endorsements from a dozen elected Democrats, much to the annoyance of Philadelphia Democratic Party Chair Bob Brady. He says those Democrats are not only violating party rules, they’re putting state judicial races at risk by motivating Republican turnout.
“These Working Families people, why didn’t they run as a Democrat in the primary?” asked Brady. “They want it both ways. They want it the easy way. And they’re hurting our statewide candidates.”
The Republican at-large candidates make a similar argument about Working Families — that they’re essentially Democrats. They say the minority seats should provide balance and represent the 115,000 voters who are registered Republican, as opposed to the 16 registered as Working Families.
Republicans are running just two candidates this time to give them a better chance: Drew Murray and Jim Hasher. Both men describe themselves as moderate. Hasher says he’d like to take labels off the race.
“It’s not about Democrat, Republican or Independent. It’s about who has the best voice and vision for Philadelphia,” he said.
Hasher touts his business perspective and his community involvement, as president and athletic director of the Torresdale Boys Club. Murray, a former Democrat, points to his leadership in groups such as the Crosstown Coalition and Logan Square Neighbors. However, he thinks party labels are important.
“It is paramount that we have Republican representation on City Council,” said Murray, “or we’re just going to be completely ignored by Harrisburg.”