Reclaim Philadelphia Ballot Guide General Election 2021
At stake in this election is the future of how we deal with harm in our city — will we go back to the values of racist sentencing and mass incarceration or will we continue to move boldly towards justice that works for all of us?
Reclaim Philadelphia’s Steering Committee asks that you join us in supporting our endorsed candidates for District Attorney, Court of Common Pleas, and Municipal Court this Tuesday, November 2, 2021. We’ve also detailed some recommendations for our members in races where our members haven’t endorsed and for the ballot questions.
ENDORSEMENTS (FROM PRIMARY ELECTION)
District Attorney:The District Attorney has direct responsibility for deciding what charges are filed whenever an arrest is made, has a key role in recommending sentencing, and otherwise shapes the criminal legal system in our city.
(122) Larry Krasner
Court of Common Pleas: This is the general trial court for Philadelphia. The Court of Common Pleas is made up of three divisions: the Trial Division, the Family Division, and Orphans’ Division.
(105) Nick Kamau
(106) Wendi Barish
(107) Cateria McCabe
(108) Betsy Wahl
(109) Chris Hall
(110) Michele Hangley
(112) Dan Sulman
Municipal Court: This trial court handles misdemeanors and smaller criminal offenses, evictions, small claims, and the traffic division.
(117) Greg Yorgey-Girdy
You can view the Steering Committee’s original statement about the District Attorney race here as well as the original statement about the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court here.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Many members and supporters have asked how to vote on some of the other races and ballot questions.The Steering Committee of Reclaim Philadelphia offers these recommendations based on the guidance of other organizations led by directly impacted leaders. These are not formal Reclaim Philadelphia endorsements because our members did not vote on these recommendations.
In the General Election, statewide races often depend on turnout in Philadelphia. And after last year’s Presidential election results, the stakes are high in this year’s statewide judicial elections. Republican courts could overturn voting rights, reproductive rights, and worker’s rights, as well as strike down mask mandates and other COVID-19 mitigations designed to keep us safe. We also have the chance to make the courts more representative. All but one of the 31 statewide seats on the bench is held by a white judge. This November we have the opportunity to elect two more Black women to the higher courts.
Supreme Court:This court is the ultimate authority over lower courts through appeals and interventions.
(101) Maria McLaughlin
Superior Court: This court handles appeals in criminal and civil cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.
(102) Timika Lane
Commonwealth Court: This court handles original civil actions involving state agencies and appeals of actions by state agencies.
(103) Lori Dumas
(104) David Lee Spurgeon
City Controller: The Controller is tasked with watching over how the city government handles public money.
(123) Rebecca Rhynhart
Judge of Election & Inspector of Election: The people working inside our polling places are elected to these hyperlocal seats to uphold transparent, neutral, and efficient elections. However, Election Board workers are forbidden from campaigning for any candidates on Election Day. If you are interested in running for another hyperlocal seat with a focus on building political power, we recommend you look into joining us for our Committee Person Campaign in Early 2022!
Retention Votes: Judges up for retention don’t have to run in elections against each other or even have their party listed on the ballot. Voters will simply vote “Yes” or “No.” If voters vote not to retain a judge a vacancy will occur.
Judicial Retentions - Superior Court:
Vote NO on the Retention of Republican John T. Bender
Vote NO on the Retention of Republican Mary Jane Bowes
Judicial Retentions - Commonwealth Court:
Vote NO on the Retention of Republican Anne Covey
Vote NO on the Retention of Republican Renee Cohn Jubelirer
Ballot Questions
Read full Ballot Question language. Reclaim Philadelphia’s Steering Committee offers these recommendations after reviewing the positions of allied organizations and information and reporting from the Committee of 70, Billy Penn, and the Inquirer.
Question 1 Vote YES to show support for the state of Pennsylvania moving to decriminalize recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 or older.
Question 2 Vote YES to create a Department of Fleet Management, which would manage the acquisition, repair, maintenance and disposal of City vehicles and vehicle-related equipment, and potentially guide vehicle efficiency standards.
Question 3 Vote YES to diversifying civil service by adopting changes for a more flexible and hopefully equitable hiring process.
Question 4 Vote YES to require City Council to set aside funds for housing in its annual budget. The Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities, of which we are a part, has tirelessly advocated for this mandatory funding. While Reclaim’s Housing Taskforce notes that the Housing Trust Fund has thus far failed to affect trends making housing inaccessible, more resources for affordable housing and repairs is always welcome. We recommend voting yes.
If voting in person: Polls are open 7am to 8pm on Election day Tuesday, November 2, 2021. Find your polling location here. Be advised, if you requested a mail-in ballot but have changed your mind you will still need to surrender your mail-in ballot and all related envelopes in order to vote at the polls. If you have any problems you can always request to vote by provisional ballot.
If voting by mail: If you still have your mail-in ballot you can return it to one of the 24/7 Ballot Drop Off Locations by 8pm on Election Day, not your polling place.
Make your mail-in ballot count: 1) Mark your ballot with a black or blue pen. 2) Seal it in the secrecy envelope. 3) Seal the secrecy envelope into the return envelope. Ballots without the secrecy envelope will not be counted! 4) Sign and date the return envelope.
Get all your voting resources for the upcoming election and reclaim your vote here!