Mayor
(Vote for one in your party)
Job Description: The mayor is the “chief executive officer” of the city. He or she is responsible for the conduct of the executive and administrative work of the city and for law enforcement within its boundaries. The mayor prepares the city budget, appoints administrators of city services and proposes legislation to City Council, but cannot pass it without consent of Council.
To serve as mayor, a citizen must have been a resident of the city for at least three years preceding election and be at least 25 years old at the time of election
Term: four years
Salary: $144,009
Qualifications: We asked about the candidates’
A. Education
Current occupation:
Qualifications for office:
We also asked the candidates:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government? In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government?
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Democrats
Queena Bass
Qualifications: No Response Received
Answers: No Response Received
Robert Brady
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: No Response Received
Current occupation: United States Congressman, 1st District, Pennsylvania
Qualifications for office: Sergeant at Arms, Philadelphia City Council; Deputy Mayor, labor relations; Chairman, Philadelphia Democratic City Committee; United States Congressman, 1st District, Pennsylvania - Armed Services Committee; Air & Land Forces Subcommittee; Readiness Subcommittee; House Administration Committee; Capitol Security Subcommittee; Joint Printing Committee; Congressional Human Rights Caucus; Congressional Progressive Caucus; Congressional Steel Caucus
Answers:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
I would implement a workforce development initiative designed to elevate the educational level of working Philadelphians. First, I would establish a one-stop shop to re-engage the 80,000 Philadelphians who have some college experience, but no degree. Second, I would double the availability of GED and adult education programs. Also, I will ensure early access to work through WorkReady Philadelphia and pre-apprenticeship programs in the union trades. Each of these actions will result in a labor force that has the skills necessary to compete for and attract jobs to the City of Philadelphia.
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
I will put 1,000 additional police, parole, and truancy officers on the street in the next four years. By placing more officers in the neighborhood, we will be able to respond to calls faster and engage in a higher level of community policing. I will also work to transfer the administration of the office of probation and parole directly to the mayor. Supervision of offenders and those awaiting trial is a crucial matter of law enforcement. I will also appoint a Deputy Mayor of Public Safety to coordinate the actions taken by different law enforcement agencies.
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
First, I will work with the School Reform Commission to create “School Report Cards,” based on data from SchoolStat, so that parents, students, and teachers will know which schools are succeeding and which ones are failing. These report cards will help to foster a culture of accountability within the School District and usher in much needed change. Second, I will work to get Non-Teaching Assistants (NTAs) rehired. NTAs are a necessary part of a safe and secure school system. Third, I will urge for the reintroduction of “Accommodation Rooms.” Disruptive students should not be allowed to hold the educational process hostage.
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
I will work to eliminate the gross receipts portion of the Business Privilege Tax (BPT). This regressive tax discourages businesses, both large and small, from locating within Philadelphia. Philadelphia currently has the second-highest tax burden in the United States. The oppressive tax structure has discouraged business so severely that it has been estimated that elimination of the gross receipts tax will result in $100 million in additional revenue within six years, due to new businesses locating in the City. Philadelphia must remain competitive with surrounding counties if it is to attract new business ventures and ensure economic growth.
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government? Government functions best when roles are clearly defined and the process is transparent. As mayor, I will work to streamline the processes within city departments such as Licenses and Inspections. Expediters should not be needed to navigate a bureaucratic maze. I will work to make the processes at City departments, such as L&I, efficient and predictable. By creating processes that are transparent, we will create a built-in incentive for consistent ethical behavior.
Web site: http://www.bobbradyworks.com
Dwight Evans
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: Germantown High School, 1971; Community College of Philadelphia, A.S., 1973; La Salle College, B.S.,1975
Current occupation: State Legislator, 203rd Legislative District
Qualifications for office: State House Representative, 27 years; Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman, 16 years; Led the revitalization of the West Oak Lane area through increased public safety, job creation, school improvement
Answers:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
We must develop our workforce to meet demand in expanding industries so that we can be competitive nationwide. In addition to attracting new business, a more focused investment in our human capital will allow Philadelphia’s existing businesses to grow. Throughout Philadelphia, quality education, job training programs, good-paying jobs with benefits, and an atmosphere for entrepreneurs to begin a business are needed. I will partner with community development organizations, our unions, and our education system to provide job training programs, promote entrepreneurship, and provide funds for economic revitalization projects. I have helped to revitalize West Oak Lane and intend to model that success.
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
From day one, I will begin to add 500 more police officers on the street. I will direct the police department to increase visibility by moving officers back to active patrol as well as creating “impact zones” to target high-crime areas. I will also attack gun crimes by tracing weapons recovered from juveniles, requiring criminals with gun records to register with police and pursuing an exemption for Philadelphia to write its own gun laws. As mayor, I will call a special session of City Council to discuss crime reduction as well as adopt a zero tolerance policy.
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
We must modernize schools, reduce the dropout rate and provide safety for our children. I will build more schools, eliminate overcrowding and reduce class size in addition to technological updates. As mayor, I will improve teacher recruitment to ensure a highly qualified teacher in every classroom. I will also target the most at-risk youth with dropout intervention and second-chance programs. To facilitate this, I will enhance school-to-work transitions by linking vocational and work-study opportunities. I will fix weaknesses in security as well as provide high-quality after-school programs across the city to provide our children with a safe learning environment.
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
Under Philadelphia’s current budget process, it is difficult to determine what is being spent on specific activities as everything in the City’s budget is categorized by departments. I plan to create a system that will measure the effectiveness of city services. CitiStat, a system used in Baltimore, measures city departments with weekly results. I also plan to reduce the costs of doing business in Philadelphia by continuing to focus on reforming taxes and the city’s permitting and licensing processes. The Office of Economic Growth, which I will create as mayor, will partner with neighborhood organizations to shape economic development.
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government?
I am disappointed that elected officials in Philadelphia had to wait until over 30 federal indictments for pay-to-play were handed down before taking action against corruption. I have fought throughout my 27-year career for government reform, and in 1999 I publicly stated that Philadelphia must end the culture of pay-to-play if we are ever to reach our full potential. As mayor, I will lead this City in the same manner as I have throughout my public service, including my 17 years as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee: with openness, transparency, and the highest of expectations and standards of accountability.
Web site: http://www.evansformayor.com
Chaka Fattah
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: 1986, Fels Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, M.A.
Current occupation: U.S. Congressman
Qualifications for office: State Representative, 6 years; State Senator, 6 years; Member of Congress, 13 years
Answers:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
Addressing the poverty in our city will be my top priority. My Opportunity Agenda presents a path to reaching the ambitious goal of halving poverty in the city by 2020 by investing more than $150 million a year into effective, proven programs to expand opportunities for all. These efforts will include helping Philadelphia workers close the skills gap in our workforce through expanding continuing education, helping the 80,000 Philadelphians with some college credits earn their degrees and targeting workforce development in sectors in which Philadelphia has a strategic advantage. Increasing workers’ skill levels will create opportunity and boost retention.
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
As mayor, I would expand the use of surveillance cameras, acoustic shot-spotter technology and specially-trained officers who would engage in targeted patrols to get illegal guns off of our streets. I have pledged to increase the number of police officers by whatever number my Police Commissioner recommends. I have already established a new anonymous tip line for information leading to confiscation of illegal guns or an illegal gun-related arrest. I have worked with elected officials, the business community and unions to collect more than 600 guns in exchange for $200 grocery vouchers.
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
I have laid out my Opportunity Agenda to improve education by increasing school funding for specific programs like early childhood literacy, classroom modernization, forming early college high schools and expanding access to college for all Philadelphia graduates so we can break thousands of Philadelphia children out of the generational cycle of poverty. I will work cooperatively with the School District of Philadelphia and the School Reform Commission to increase city funding for our school district and will work with legislators to ensure a fairer state funding formula that provides a more equitable per-pupil funding for all schools in Pennsylvania.
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
I have laid out a plan that calls for the replacement of the Business Privilege Tax with a simple net profits charge and have pledged to continue incremental reductions in the city’s wage tax to make our city’s economy more competitive while continuing to deliver quality municipal services. But we must also keep spending under control. I will work with the city’s unions in the upcoming negotiations to rein in rising pension and health care costs and will perform a full operational review to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively.
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government? I have called for an end to no-bid contracts and made clear that there will be no correlation between campaign contributions and government decisions or contracts in my Administration. I have laid out an in-depth policy proposal to increase transparency in government by expanding the city documents, meetings and hearing transcripts available online and posting city contracting information on the city’s Web site. Additionally, I have promised to bring City Hall to each Councilmanic District quarterly so that residents can hold me and my Administration accountable.
Web site: http://www.phillyforfattah.com
Thomas J. Knox
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: 1979, American College, CLU; 1982, American College, ChFC.
Current occupation: Businessman
Qualifications for office: Deputy Mayor for Management and Productivity; Long time Philadelphia businessman and entrepreneur
Answers:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
While the causes of poverty and unemployment are many, lack of educational opportunity is almost always at the root of the problem. I am determined to provide the Community College of Philadelphia with the resources it needs to make substantial changes in our community. If elected mayor, I will preside over “the largest fiscal expansion of Community College of Philadelphia in its history,” give the college a substantial endowment, and embark on a four-pronged plan to provide job training to the unemployed, offer new options to high school students, break the cycle of recidivism, and upgrade Philadelphia’s existing workforce.
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
As mayor, I will pursue short-term and long-term solutions. In the short term, I will grow our police force and equip it with 21st-century technology. In the long term, I will focus on improving education, getting Philadelphians back to work, and creating a reentry program that will cut recidivism by 25% in four years. It is no coincidence that our crime hotspots are also our unemployment hotspots and our dropout hotspots. We will never arrest our way to safety. We must address the root causes of violence.
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
In addition to reducing class size and improving school safety, I believe that we need to expand career training options for our students. Every student should have the opportunity to go to college and we have a responsibility to make that a reality. However, many students would be far more motivated if they are given the option of career training curricula. Students who see a light at the end of the tunnel - who know that they will have economic viability - are far more likely to stay in school.
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
I pledge, as mayor, to rid Philadelphia of the no-bid, sweetheart contracts that are draining valuable budgetary dollars. Pay-to-play politics are preventing us from paying for things we need, like 1,000 new police officers, affordable housing, and health centers in every community. In addition, I propose we work harder to make necessary infrastructure investments now, when preventive costs are lower, as opposed to down the road, when critical repairs are much more expensive.
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government? It is time to turn the page on the politics of the past. My administration will serve as a leader in inclusive and open politics. I pledge to bring an end to smoke-filled, back-room, big-boss political deals. Philadelphia deserves a mayor who has no interest in making his or her friends, relatives, or contributors wealthy at our city’s expense. If elected, the only people that will own City Hall will be the citizens of our first great city and our next great city, the people of Philadelphia.
Web site: http://www.knoxforphilly.com
Michael Nutter
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: 1975, St. Joe’s Prep, high school diploma; 1979, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, B.A.
Current occupation: Candidate for Mayor
Qualifications for office: Philadelphia City Council 4th District, 15 years; Chair Pennsylvania Convention Center Board of Directors, 4 years; Chief of Staff, Councilman Angel Ortiz, 11 months; Investment Manager, Pryor Counts & Co. (5 years)
Answers:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
My Opportunity Now plan calls for: (1) Helping small business creation through a new Office of Business Services; (2) replacing the current minority/women’s business program with a more ambitious program led by an Equal Opportunity Cabinet; (3) establishing a Neighborhood TIF Fund to provide $8 million to fund commercial corridors and neighborhood businesses; (4) continuing the reductions in the wage tax and the business privilege tax, which I fought for in City Council; and (5) additional support of Community College of Philadelphia, so that more people can afford to get a college degree.
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
I will begin by calling it what it is and invoking the crime emergency powers of the City Code. This will apply to specific areas with hyper-violence and allow law enforcement to restore order by limiting movement in, out, and through these areas. People in these areas are crying out for help and I will not neglect them. I will order an increase in illegal gun seizures throughout the City using constitutional ‘stop-question-and-frisk’ tactics that have worked elsewhere. I will coordinate police and parole personnel, especially in targeted neighborhoods. I will bring opportunity to vulnerable populations through education and workforce investments.
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
My daughter Olivia attends public schools, so I understand the need for better, safer schools as a parent as well as a public leader. I have called for an audit of the School District and for returning the School District to city control. As mayor, I will: (1) lead the effort to change the state funding formula that has cost Philadelphia millions of dollars; (2) institute a School Safety Plan (3) reduce contracts with outside contractors, such as Edison, and use that money to put more safety personnel in our high schools; (4) and increase coaching and other programs to retain good teachers.
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
I am the only candidate for mayor to release a budget accounting for the costs of every proposal made in this campaign and identifying new revenues to pay for them without service cuts or tax increases. I worked with Ed Rendell in 1992 to balance the City’s budget and cut the wage tax - without cutting services. I am the only candidate who has voted on the City’s budget and I understand it better than any other candidate. I am the only candidate to propose a new budget process, creating greater transparency and meaningful public participation in our spending priorities.
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government? I led the effort to establish a Board of Ethics and supported campaign finance reform to address the pay to play scandal in City Hall. Some of my opponents have tried to get these reforms killed, but I have run an open, ethical and transparent campaign. As mayor, I will have a zero-tolerance ethics code and I will take actions to increase the power and effectiveness of the Board of Ethics.
Web site: http://nutterformayor.com
Jesus White
Qualifications: No Response Received.
Answers: No Response Received.
Republican
Al Taubenberger
Philadelphia
Qualifications:
Education: 1975, Pennsylvania State University, B.S.
Current occupation: President, Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce
Qualifications for office: Lifelong Philadelphia resident and father of four, married to Philadelphia public school teacher, founder of Burholme Town Watch & Civic Association, former Congressional Staffer, former City Council Chief of Staff
Answers:
1. According to the 2000 census, in many neighborhoods in Philadelphia, more than 40 percent of residents fall below the poverty level. Only 56 percent of working-age adults were employed or looking for work - the fourth lowest percentage among the 100 largest US cities. As mayor, in order to address these issues, what would your plan be to increase job opportunities and employee retention?
Implementing all of the tax cuts purposed by the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission would help to retain businesses and attract new business. As mayor, I would serve as Philadelphia’s chief advocate and aggressively pursue new business opportunities to create jobs for local residents. I would create an Office of Job Placement to help people find employment opportunities in the private and public sectors - similar to the successful program implemented in New York City by Mayor Bloomberg.
2. As mayor, what would you do to address the crime epidemic in Philadelphia?
Economic growth and job opportunities are vital ingredients to stemming the current crime rate, coupled with more police and better deployment of our police personnel. I strongly support State Representative Perzel’s initiative to provide over 1,300 new police officers for Philadelphia, with the state providing half of the funding. In addition to more police, we must utilize the most modern crime fighting technology, such as surveillance cameras and all other tools to efficiently deploy our police and attack crime throughout Philadelphia. We must also empower our police with the necessary legal tools to be permitted to stop and search felons.
3. As mayor, how would you work to improve the public schools of our city and their image, so that we can create an attractive environment for families with school-age children?
Our public schools need to be adequately funded in order to improve the quality of education. As mayor, I will fight for increased funding from Harrisburg and will work with the School District to eliminate mismanagement and inefficiency in school spending. Additionally, we must reduce class size for early childhood and elementary student classes. We must address the issue of violence in our schools and impose disciplinary standards that allow the quick removal of violent and disruptive students from our schools.
4. As mayor, what specific ways can you implement good stewardship over city revenues and expenditures to insure economic growth?
I will bring a highly motivated and qualified management team with me to the Mayor’s Office. I will seek out the best and brightest - regardless of political affiliation, who will concentrate on cleaning up the mess in City Hall and moving Philadelphia forward on a number of fronts - including ensuring our financial health and putting us on a firm path to increased economic growth and job creation.
5. In light of recent events, pay-to-play is a topic of much discussion in this election. What is your plan to restore ethics in government? Philadelphia’s play-to-pay environment has cost this city hundreds of millions in terms of lost business opportunities from those who chose to locate elsewhere because of Philadelphia’s reputation for corruption and pay-to-play schemes. I will lead by example and require all of my staff and appointees to attend annual ethics classes. Further, I will fully support and cooperate with the Board of Ethics and require that all who work for me do likewise.
Web site: None Provided.
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