Philly for Change
Philly for Change is part of a national movement to get ordinary citizens more involved in working on political campaigns, running for office, and advancing progressive policies at the local, state, and national levels. We believe in grassroots political organizing and working toward a more progressive government that serves all of its people.
The endorsement committee chooses which races to endorse in, and a candidate must receive 60% of the voting membership's approval to receive an endorsement.
Endorsements
| Mayor | Michael Nutter |
| City Commissioner | B. Blair Talmadge |
| Sheriff | Michael Untermeyer |
| City Council | |
|---|---|
| 1st District | Vern Anastasio |
| 2nd District | Damon K. Roberts |
| 4th District | No Endorsement |
| 5th District | Haile C. Johnston |
| 7th District | Maria Quinones Sanchez |
| 8th District | Irv Ackelsberg |
| At Large | Marc Stier
Matt Ruben Andy Toy Blondell Reynolds Brown Derek S. Green |
| Judges | |
| Supreme Court | C. Darnell Jones II
Debra Todd |
| Superior Court | James M. DeLeon
Anne E. Lazarus |
| Court of Common Pleas | Michael Erdos
Ellen Green-Ceisler Linda Carpenter Angeles Roca |
| Municipal Court | Joyce Eubanks
Diane Thompson |
| Traffic Court | No Endorsements |
Michael Nutter (Mayor) served as a city councilman for 14 years before resigning to run for mayor. During his time in council, he worked to lower taxes, strengthen ethics legislation, and enact a citywide smoking ban. In his campaign for mayor, Michael has proposed detailed plans to make the city's budget process more transparent, create opportunities for small businesses, improve public transportation, promote arts and culture in Philadelphia, create job opportunities for ex-offenders, increase funding for public education, revise the zoning code, promote new housing and the revitalization of existing neighborhoods, prepare for emergency management and disaster response, strengthen ethics legislation, and curb violent crime.
B. Blair Talmadge (City Commissioner) is a longtime fighter for progressive causes in Philadelphia. A teacher at the Center for Progressive Leadership, Blair was instrumental in helping Philly for Change member Tony Payton get elected to the state legislature. Blair has campaigned to bring open and honest elections to a city which has been hostile to new leaders seeking office.
Michael Untermeyer (Sheriff) has served as Special Counsel to the Office of Inspector General, Deputy Attorney General, and Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney. He has campaigned to bring transparency and accountability to the Sheriff's Office - which has historically been a place for patronage abuses, cronyism, no-bid contracts, and even public funds which have gone unaccounted for.
Vern Anastasio (1st District) is a community leader who founded the Bella Vista United Civic Association, created the National Italian Memorial Foundation, and served on the city's Gaming Task Force to demand community input. Vern wants to fight casino expansion on the Delaware River waterfront, reform our zoning and tax policies, and reform property taxes so that seniors and young families can stay in our neighborhoods.
Damon K. Roberts (2nd District) is a community advocate who has been improving the lives of Philadelphians for years. His campaign is raising awareness of the severe economic and educational inequalities within his district. The 2nd Councilmanic District has the unfortunate distinction of having the highest high school dropout rate as well as the highest murder rate in the city. Damon will work to reduce gun violence, improve education and help small businesses in the city.
Haile C. Johnston (5th District) is a founder of the East Park Revitalization Alliance - a community-based nonprofit focusing on the arts, environment, and education - and a former Environmental Interventions Coordinator for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. He is campaigning to break the cycles of violence, poverty, displacement, corruption and the under-education of our youth.
Maria Quinones Sanchez (7th District) has over 21 years of service to the people of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. She recently served as the Regional Director for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) where she collaborated with over 70 organizations and mounted a historic Puerto Rican/Latino voter registration and Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) effort in Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley and Central Pennsylvania, registering over 32,000 Latinos and increasing turnout by 35% in the targeted areas. Her campaign is focusing on neighborhood revitalization, combatting crime, and improving education.
Irv Ackelsberg (8th District) has fought for individuals in Philadelphia for longer than most PFC members have been alive. As the head of community legal services, Irv has fought for homeowners, SEPTA riders, and consumers - even being named "consumer lawyer of the year." As a community activist, Irv has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in his Southwest Germantown neighborhood. Now he is running for city council in the 8th District and he has the full support of Philly for Change.
Marc Stier (At Large) is associate director of the Intellectual Heritage Program at Temple University and an activist with a variety of movements for social change in Philadelphia. Mark has worked for such diverse causes as abortion rights, welfare advocacy, street vendor rights, and most recently keeping casinos out of Philadelphia. Mark's campaign is based on the idea that crime, poverty and population loss will not be solved unless we pursue an agenda of economic growth with social justice.
Andy Toy (At Large) has brought over $2.5 million of state and national funding to Philadelphia neighborhoods through his work at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). He has worked to improve life for Philadelphia's residents, businesses and neighborhoods by serving on the Boards of 17 local non-profit organizations. Now Andy is running for city council on a platform of public safety, economic development, education, the environment, new business investment, and ethics.
Matt Ruben (At Large) is a former president of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association and award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served on the Community Advisory Board of the Wireless Philadelphia initiative. Matt is running to restore our sense of safety and security, revive our economy, our schools, and our neighborhoods, and reclaim Philadelphia for the people.
Derek S. Green (At Large) was the chief legislative aide and counsel for Councilwoman Marian Tasco. He also served as counsel to the City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services. If elected, Derek hopes to provide resources to grassroots organizations that are effective in reducing crime and violence, create tax credits for businesses that provide internships for teens, at-risk youth, and young adults, and invest in our recreation centers to make them the true anchors of our neighborhoods.
Blondell Reynolds Brown (At Large) has served seven years on City Council. During that time, she has been Council's leading advocate for women and children. Blondell is a shining example of someone who - without the party machine - became a powerful and popular political leader by "putting people first."
C. Darnell Jones II (Supreme Court) is President Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The Pennsylvania Bar Association rated Judge Jones "hightly recommended" and went on to say: "He has presided over hundreds of jury and bench trials. The Candidate is a nationally-recognized judicial expert in matters of criminal law. He enjoys the respect of his peers and an excellent reputation in the legal and social community. The Candidate is extremely hard working, intellectually curious and is a dedicated, dependable community servant. The Commission believes that the Candidate has the experience, temperament, intellectual ability, character, life experiences and integrity necessary for outstanding service as a Justice of the Supreme Court. He is highly recommended for this position."
Debra Todd (Supreme Court) is a Justice of the Pennsylvania Superior Court. The Pennsylvania Bar Association rated Justice Todd "hightly recommended" and went on to say: "She has continued her involvement in a variety of community service endeavors, especially those dealing with young people. She has a strong commitment to the law and to the improvement of the court system, both of which have helped instill public awareness of and confidence in the judiciary. The Commission believes the Candidate has the intellectual ability, personal integrity, strong sense of fairness, and diverse practical and academic experience to serve with distinction on the highest court. She is highly recommended for this position."
James M. DeLeon (Superior Court) is Supervising Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court's Criminal Division and a member of Philly for Change. Judge DeLeon believes that equal access to education and health care are fundamental constitutional rights and believes in international cooperation as a means to national security.
Anne E. Lazarus (Superior Court) is a Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. She was rated "highly recommended" by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which went on to say: "She is intelligent, thoughtful, candid, and scholarly, and she demonstrates superior writing ability, knowledge of the law and exceptional judicial temperament. She has a strong commitment to community and pro bono service and, in addition to her own exemplary service, has used her elected office to encourage lawyers to participate in pro bono programs. The Commission concludes that the Candidate would bring commitment, enthusiasm, perspective, legal knowledge and experience to the Superior Court and would serve the office with distinction."
Michael Erdos (Court of Common Pleas) was a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office for 10 years, working to shut down drug houses and nuisance bars. He has campaigned on on a platform of protecting individual rights, protecting neighborhoods, and elevating faith in the judiciary.
Ellen Green-Ceisler (Court of Common Pleas) was the head of the Police Civilian Review Board, working to investigate and curb police misconduct. Even though her former position found her at odds with the police department, she has earned the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police. As the Philadelphia Inquirer said in their endorsement: "Ellen Green-Ceisler is everything you would want in a judge - smart, independent, gutsy."
Linda Carpenter (Court of Common Pleas) is a trial lawyer with 17 years of experience, including a clerkship for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Linda is a fighter for progressive causes, having become a member of Philly for Change and Neighborhood Networks and having worked alongside the progressive community for Philadelphians Against Santorum.
Angeles Roca (Court of Common Pleas) has spent her legal career helping people in need. In her neighborhood practice, she makes telephones calls and writes letters to help solve the many minor problems that community members face. Her main area of practice was family law where she would bring both sides together to reach an agreement that benefits both sides. She wants to be the type of judge that listens to people that come before her and looks for compromises.
Joyce Eubanks (Municipal Court) has been a public defender for over 20 years. Joyce is a member of the ACLU, the NAACP, and NOW. She helped found Open Arms Against Abuse, Inc., which helps stop abuse against women of color and Chenia Y. Eubanks, M.D. Community Foundation, which provides small scholarships for school children in North Philadelphia so they can participate in after-school school activities.
Diane Thompson (Municipal Court) began her legal careen in the Against Abuse Legal Center. She also represents indigent individuals in civil and criminal cases and does pro bono work for victims of abuse who need representation in civil cases. She's been involved in grassroots politics since the anti-nuclear movement and is now on the board of governors of Lawyers Alliance for World. A former law clerk for Judge Avellino, she now has her own practice focusing on family law.