Committee of Seventy

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April 7, 2023

Big money pours into the mayors race

The latest round of campaign finance reports filed Tuesday shed light on the more than $13 million spent so far by the mayoral candidates and super PACs aligned with Jeff Brown, Helen Gym and Cherelle Parker. But while the teachers unions and building trades supporting Gym and Parker are known, the super PAC supporting Brown has spent nearly $3 million funneled through a nonprofit, a technique to hide the donors and deploy so-called “dark money” to influence the election. Allan Domb’s $7 million self-contribution makes up the other major portion of funding in a race that will blow past the $15 million spent in 2015 when Jim Kenney was elected.

It still takes a candidate: While the torrent of money unleashed by the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision is a massive problem, elections are still decided by voters and candidates still have to make their case. As the Inquirer reports, voting power in the city continues to evolve and no one knows which candidate will stitch together the support to come out on top.

Get ready to vote: The Every, Voice Every Vote project, managed by the Lenfest Institute, continues to list the many candidate forums and nonpartisan resources available to help you and your community get ready for May 16.

Former Gov. Corbett calls for ‘hyper-localized’ dialogue on democracy

Speaking Monday during a forum on democracy and civics at Dickinson College and organized by Keep Our Republic, former Gov. Tom Corbett pointed to the advent of social media as a transformative challenge to the country’s politics and democratic system. “What’s really changed within the last 10-15 years is communication,” Corbett said, holding up his cell phone as an example: “Everybody today has a billboard.” A key solution, he argued, lies in partnerships and dialogue through “coffee shops, VFW organizations, county fairs” and other local institutions where voters with different political affiliations can talk to each other while benefiting from basic civics education.

Five habits: Corbett and Keep Our Republic are right to emphasize the power of basic civics and cultivating local dialogue in healing divisions and rebuilding trust in elections and government. Count on hearing more from Seventy on this long-term strategy and the five habits of active citizenship.

Mounting effort to repeal closed primaries

As another primary approaches, Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) urged in Broad + Liberty the repeal of closed primaries and to finally allow the state’s 1.1 million independent and unaffiliated voters to have a say in these often decisive spring elections. Pennsylvania is one of only nine states that denies independent voters from casting a ballot in the primaries, and Spotlight PA notes that other lawmakers including Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), Marla Brown (R-Lawrence), Jared Soloman and Chris Rabb (D-Phila), and Scott Conklin (D-Centre), have all expressed interest in tackling this issue in the coming months.

Reader Poll: Nearly 3 in 4 of PoliticsPA readers agree that everyone should have the opportunity to choose candidates for the general election.

Caught Our Eye

The Inquirer breaks down the latest round of campaign finance reports in five illuminating charts.

Events

Philadelphia City Council At-Large Candidate Convention

Tues., April 11, 4-7 pm

WHYY Independence Civic Space

150 N. 5th St., Philadelphia

Seventy, WHYY, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Every Voice, Every Vote are sponsoring a convention for voters to come meet directly with the 35+ candidates running for at-large positions on City Council. This event will run like a reverse job-fair. Voters can approach candidates at their table to discuss issues. This event is made possible with the support of the Lenfest Institute’s Every Voice, Every Vote project. RSVP.

Meet the Candidates with Open Wards Philly

April 11, 13 and 19, 6:30-8 pm

Zoom

Open Wards Philly is hosting three candidate forums to give committeepeople (and others who're interested) a chance to meet candidates running for row offices and judicial seats. Candidates will join us for 15-minute segments across three evenings on April 11, 13 and 19 to introduce themselves and field questions from attendees. RSVP.

Voter Hub at FDR Park

Sun., April 16, 11 am-4 pm

FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Avenue & S. Broad St, Philadelphia

C70, Friends of FDR Park and the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia host a five-hour opportunity for eligible citizens to register to vote, apply for a mail-in ballot, question experts on voting and receive nonpartisan resources in several languages to prepare them to vote in the May 16th primary election. We'll also have bilingual volunteers on-hand and election related crafts for kids. Join us!

Our Vote, Our Future Mayoral Forum

Mon., April 17, 6-8 pm

Columbia North YMCA

1400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia

The Urban Affairs Coalition, the Greater Philadelphia YMCA and One Day at a Time host a mayoral forum that will offer Philadelphians an opportunity to voice their hopes, concerns and what they know will make Philadelphia an ever-better place for all of us. The focus will be on such top-of-mind issues as education, youth development, health equity, substance abuse recovery, housing, equitable economic development and gun violence. Moderators: Urban Affairs Coalition CEO Sharmain Matlock-Turner and Shaun Elliott, the president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. Register.

The Last Word with the Committee of Seventy

Tues, May 2, 6-7:30 PM

Save the Date! C70 is hosting a forum for mayoral candidates that gives voters a chance to zoom out and focus on the big issues two weeks before the election. Stayed tuned for more information.

Appellate Courts Candidate Forum

Tues., May 9, 6-7:30 PM

Zoom

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts will host a virtual forum with the candidates for Pennsylvania's appellate courts. All of the candidates have been invited to participate, and virtual attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for the candidates. Co-Sponsors include the Allegheny County Law Library, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Bar Association, the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the C70. Register.

2023 Women in Public Leadership Event

Tuesday, June 6, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

The Committee of Seventy’s Second Annual Women in Public Leadership event features a timely and important conversation on the vital role the media plays in a democracy. Dr. Kerry Sautner, Chief Learning Officer for the National Constitution Center, will moderate the discussion between Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large and Founder of the 19th*; Lisa Hughes, publisher & CEO of The Philadelphia Inquirer; and Sarah Glover, VP of News & Civic Dialogue at WHYY to discuss their path to leadership, how news organizations can strengthen democracy, and the challenges and opportunities their industries face in light of the heightened partisanship facing our nation. C70 will also honor renowned civic leader, Sharmain Matlock-Turner, CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition, for her tireless work advancing social and economic justice, promoting voter engagement, and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. Sponsorship and ticket information.

Get Involved

Become a WeVote Ambassador!

The Committee of Seventy is proud to launch our WeVote Ambassadors Program. WeVote Ambassadors are encouraged to gather their community (over an activity of your choice) to chat about the election. C70 will provide ambassadors with free, non-partisan digital and printed materials to ensure every member of your community can vote. As trusted messengers, WeVote Ambassadors will provide their networks with critical information and resources they need to successfully cast their ballot this election. If you're interested in becoming a WeVote Ambassador, please email Ashley Session.

Poll Worker Training Sessions

Mon.-Thurs., 7:30 pm, Now through May 4th

Online

Seventy, the League of Women Voters and veteran poll workers have partnered as part of the Pennsylvania Poll Worker Project to offer resources and supplemental info sessions for individuals seeking to staff polling places on Election Day across Pennsylvania. (Note: These sessions are not official trainings from a County Board of Elections, and participants are not compensated for their attendance.) Learn more about our poll worker sessions, and sign up.

Seventy's membership program broadens, diversifies, and expands our community of champions of local democracy. Become a member and receive notification about Event signups, Annual Membership Impact Reports, C70 swag and Invitations to members-only experiences and receptions.

Become a Member today