Spring 2023 Endorsements

Helen Gym

Endorsed 02/16/2023

Helen Gym is a proven leader and organizer with a long track record of fighting for the interests of working-class Philadelphians. She’s the only candidate with an expansive, optimistic vision for our City’s future. 

Gym has been a fierce ally for our school communities for years. Even before she was elected to City Council, she led the fight against the state takeover of our public schools and for the restoration of local control. As a City Councilmember, Gym introduced and passed historic housing protections, including the city’s successful eviction diversion program. Her Fair Work Week law guaranteed protections for more than 130,000 hourly workers in our City and has helped Philly workers win tens of thousands of dollars owed in back wages.

For many of us, our most pressing concern is about  gun violence and safety in our City. Gym has plans to fight it on three fronts: intervention, prevention, and transformation. She plans to increase the number of trained violence interrupters and conflict mediators, she’s focused on support for children and young people who enter the criminal legal system, and she’s committed to creating more and better opportunities for housing, employment, mental health, and public spaces and services. We believe she is the candidate with the leadership skills to mobilize the City’s resources and tackle this crisis head-on.

Erica Almirón

Endorsed 03/16/2023

As Executive Director of Juntos, a South Philly immigrant-rights organization, led the efforts to end the City’s collaboration with ICE and made Philadelphia a national model for Sanctuary Cities. Through her organizing and campaigns for public office, Erika has increased engagement and access to democracy for immigrant communities in Philadelphia, and she plans to continue that work on Council.

Rue Landau

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Rue Landau is a civil rights attorney, a housing rights organizer, member of the LGBTQ+ community, and Democratic Committee Person in the Second Ward with a three-decade track record of public service. She fought for public services and affordable housing during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and has helped thousands of low-income renters avoid eviction while taking on the Philadelphia Housing Authority and L&I.

Amanda McIllmurray

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Amanda McIllmurray  is a lifelong Philadelphian who co-founded Reclaim Philadelphia, managed and co-authored Elizabeth Fiedler’s and Nikil Saval’s first campaigns, and has mentored and inspired new leaders throughout the City, some of whom created the open and Democratic First Ward. McIllmurray’s vision of progressive urbanism puts the great many Philadelphians’ right to our City over the profit-making interests of the few. 

Katherine Gilmore Richardson

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Katherine Gilmore Richardson (incumbent) passed legislation to require transparency in the City’s contract negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police and worked with Councilmember Isaiah Thomas to transfer $1.3 million from the City Recession Relief Fund to support artists and arts organizations. She has worked tirelessly to create more pathways for residents to access union jobs, especially in Black and Brown communities.

Isaiah Thomas

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Isaiah Thomas (incumbent) has quickly proved himself as a leader for organized labor and for criminal-justice reform. During the pandemic, he worked with UNITE-HERE to confront the hotel industry and ensure that housekeepers won their jobs back. Thomas’s landmark Driving Equality legislation ensures residents are not stopped by police for routine traffic matters. He consistently advocates for expansive out-of-school time programming to invest in Philadelphia children and youth, arts and culture, and community beautification.

Mark Squilla

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Mark Squilla successfully fought for a $15/hr minimum wage for City subcontractors, worked to pass Fair Work Week legislation, and has consistently supported policies that help keep older residents in their homes. He is responsive to constituents and listens to community groups. He aims to use his next term to focus on the opioid crisis, homelessness, trash and blight, and quality-of-life crimes.

Lisa Deeley

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Omar Sabir

Endorsed 03/16/2023

Christy Brady

Endorsed 03/16/2023

The Controller conducts audits of the City’s financial operations. Brady has three decades of experience in the office, starting as an auditor and advancing to serve as a Former Acting City Controller. She brings a vast amount of institutional knowledge and experience to serve out the remainder of Rebecca Rhynhart’s term.

Tracey Gordon

Endorsed 03/16/2023

The Register of Wills manages city documents, including marriage records and wills. Gordon has lifted the public profile of the office, hosting informational sessions, developing a social media presence, and creating an outreach team to spread awareness of what the office is, how it can help, and what additional resources are available. 

The Sheriff manages foreclosures and provides safety to those who enter courtrooms. Incumbent Rochelle Bilal ran as a reformer of the office, which has been plagued by scandal for decades. Unfortunately, under her watch the office has continued to see scandals. However, none of her challengers offer a vision for this office that moves it away from scandal and the harm that the office has historically caused.