Primary 2021 Endorsements and Steering Committee Recommendation

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ENDORSEMENTS

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.

(30) Larry Krasner

Court of Common Pleas: This trial court hears appeals in cases from the minor courts.

(9) Caroline Turner

(19) Michele Hangley

(13) Cateria McCabe

(11) Wendi Barish

(14) Nick Kamau 

(18) Betsy Wahl

(22) Chris Hall

(15) Dan Sulman

Municipal Court: This trial court handles misdemeanors, evictions, small claims, and the traffic division.

(28) Gregory Yorgey-Girdy

(*) Note: Reclaim Philadelphia’s members also voted overwhelmingly to endorse Sherrie Cohen for Municipal Court. However, her candidacy was challenged in court and she won’t appear on the ballot. 

You can view the Steering Committee’s original statement about the District Attorney race hereas 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. 

Supreme Court:This court is the ultimate authority over lower courts through appeals and interventions.

(1) Maria McLaughlin

Superior Court: This court handles appeals in criminal and civil cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.

(3) Timika Lane

Commonwealth Court: This court handles original civil actions brought by/against state and state appeals.

(6) Lori Dumas

(8) Amanda Green-Hawkins

City Controller: The Controller is tasked with watching over how the city government handles taxpayers’ money.

(31) Rebecca Rhynhart

Ballot Questions

Read full Ballot Question language 

  • Question 1 Vote NO so the Governor can continue to act quickly to distribute federal and state funding in response to a disaster. 

  • Question 2 Vote NO so aid and resources used to respond to a disaster can continue as long as needed. 

  • Question 3 Vote YES to add a new fundamental right to the PA Constitution based on race and ethnicity. 

  • Question 4 Vote YES to make Municipal Fire and Emergency Medical Services eligible for loans. 

  • Question 5 Vote YES to expand the Licenses & Inspection Review Board from 6 members to 9 members to potentially hear cases more quickly. 

If voting in person: Polls are open 7am to 8pm on Election day Tuesday, May 18th. 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 Secrecy Envelope into the Return Envelope. Ballots without the Secrecy Envelope will not be counted! 4) Sign and date the Return Envelope.

In solidarity,

Steering Committee