CRITICAL PRIMARY ELECTION
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009
Ward 8, Division 8
First Presbyterian Ch., 21st & Walnut Sts, rear entrance- Chancellor St.

Historically, this primary has always resulted in a low turnout. If you care about good government, get out and vote for contoller, DA, and highly qualified judges. This election directly impacts all of us in Philadelphia.

JUDGES:  We have researched the positions carefully - consulting the Philadelphia and State Bar Associations and ADA, talking with various lawyers,  meeting and discussing the candidates in the ward meetings, and weighing the city Democratic committee nominations.  (The Bar Association’s process of review is especially stringent.) We discovered that the city committee has endorsed several candidates who are not recommended by the Bar Association.  The following are our recommendations: (We have chosen fewer candidates than permitted in some cases.)

PA Supreme Court   -  Jack Panella            #
PA Superior Court    -  Anne Lazarus         #
PA Commonwealth Court      
     Jimmy Lynn        #10
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
     Robert Coleman  #20
     Angeles Roca       #21
     Donna Woelpper #26
     Dan Anders          #34
     Joyce Eubanks     #38
Philadelphia Municipal Court
     Charles Hayden        #42
     Joseph Waters          #45
     Pat Dugan                 #51

CONTROLLER                                          BRETT MANDEL       #59 Allen Butkovitz is an able man who has done a credible job but Brett has proven to be a fiercely independent man of integrity, experience, and competence who will not bow to pressure. He founded Philadelphia Forward, a non-profit watchdog that commented on all things financial in the city and raised a strong voice against pay to play during the Street administration.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY                 SETH WILLIAMS      #55
Both Michael Turner and Dan McElhatton are fine candidates but the political reality is that both Seth and Dan McCaffrey have raised the most money and have the most support from diverse groups throughout the city.  Seth is an experienced, very capable attorney who came close to unseating Lynn Abraham last election.  If the vote is splintered, there is a strong likelihood that the least appealing candidate, Dan McCaffery, will be elected.  We need to support Seth Williams.

8th Division Judge of Elections:    Bill Eisen – Bill is an adjunct professor in chemistry at Community Collage of Philadelphia.  He has an abiding interest in good government. 

8th Division Majority Inspector:   Marilyn Conway  - Marilyn has served on the election board for four years and before that, a good 10 years working at the polls.


BALLOT QUESTIONS:

#1 YES – Amend the Charter to provide a formal promotion in rank for all police officers, firefighters and paramedics who die in the line of duty thus increasing survivor benefits. 
 
#2  YES – Amend the Charter to allow Council – with a vote of two-thirds – to make changes in how and when public notices shall be advertised.  




Paid  for by 8th Ward, 8th Division, Florence Siegel & Marcia S. Kung, Democrat Committee People