First Ward Voter Guide: Fall 2021
Dear neighbor,
In the past year, neighbors in the First Ward organized to support each other through a pandemic and, together with voters in Pennsylvania and the nation, voted Donald Trump out of the White House. We continue to work to make the First Ward a democratic, transparent organization and a powerful voice for working people in South Philly.
In the 2020 general election we sent out over 5,000 postcards and made over 6,000 phone and door-to-door contacts, connecting with and encouraging neighbors to vote in the most important election of our lifetimes. In the 2021 primary election we were able to reach one of the highest turnout rates in the city in support of Larry Krasner and a slate of progressive judges who will support the working people of the First Ward.
On Nov. 2nd we will elect our district attorney, controller, and city and state judges. We want to be sure we are electing judges and a DA who understand the root causes of crime and poverty and know that mass incarceration is NOT the answer to our problems. We need to elect local officials who support investing in our city and enacting fair justice. But we also need to support even-handed statewide judges who will protect our rights as workers, consumers, parents, and partners against reactionary assaults by the U.S. Supreme Court and the state legislature.
With so many different candidates to consider, we know that voting can feel overwhelming. That’s why we have poured countless hours into researching, discussing, and interviewing the candidates.
Please see the front of this letter for the candidates we chose.
This election will have an enormous impact on the future of our city, our state, and our criminal justice system. If you have any questions, please reach out to your committee people. We look forward to seeing you at the polls on Nov. 2nd! Remember that a powerful city is a city that votes.
Sincerely,
Your elected committee people of the Democratic First Ward
Justice of the Supreme Court
Maria McLaughlin #101
Judge of the Superior Court
Timika Lane #102
Judge of the Commonwealth Court
Lori Dumas #103
David Spurgeon #104
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Nick Kamau #105
Wendi Barish #106
Cateria McCabe #107
Betsy Wahl #108
Chris Hall #109
Michele Hangley #110
Craig Levin #111
Daniel Sulman #112
Judge of the Municipal Court
Greg Yorgey-Girdy #117
Michael Lambert #118
George Twardy #119
District Attorney
Larry Krasner #122
City Controller
Rebecca Rhynhart #123
Judicial Retentions-Superior Court
John T Bender - Vote NO
Mary Jane Bowes - Vote NO
Judicial Retentions-Commonwealth Court
Anne Covey - Vote NO
Renee Cohn Jubelirer - Vote NO
Ballot Questions*
Vote YES on #1: Municipal resolution supporting marijuana legalization
Vote YES on #2: Consolidate City vehicles in Office of Fleet Management
Vote YES on #3: Hiring in the civil service program
Vote YES on #4: Appropriation for the Housing Trust Fund
Note: The First Ward did not take positions on local judicial candidates that did not win in the May Democratic primary. We have also not taken a position on local (Common Pleas and Municipal Court) judicial retentions, all of whom are Democrats. You can see the Philadelphia Bar Association’s recommendations for all these local candidates here.