Do Something

Get Informed and Ready To Vote

Connect WITH OUR SOCIAL ACTION TEAM


Vote on Tuesday!  Even if you’re uninformed!

Find your local polling place.

View a sample of your local ballot.

Build your own ballot at Crowdpac.

Make sure you vote strategically. Know how to use your Council-At-Large votes, and strategize accordingly for this election.

Win $10,000

The Citizen's Voter Lottery

Screen Shot 2015-10-21 at 12.42.47 PM

Want to win $10,000 just for voting?  Learn about The Citizen’s Voter Lottery

Dennis O’Brien Did What?

Our No-Holds-Barred City Council Minority Seat Debate had some fireworks—and a lot of substance

Dennis O’Brien Did What?

Our No-Holds-Barred City Council Minority Seat Debate had some fireworks—and a lot of substance

Nov. 02, 2015

Print

You may have heard about the excitement at last week’s Citizen debate, featuring five of the minority party at-large City Council candidates: Republican incumbent Dennis O’Brien refused to give up the mic, was heckled by the audience, wouldn’t respond to questions from other candidates, and then walked off the stage—twice.

But there was also excitement beyond O’Brien’s antics. For the only time in the run-up to the general election on Tuesday, Republicans O’Brien and Terry Tracy; Socialist John Staggs; Independent Andrew Stober; and Green Party candidate Kristin Combs had the opportunity to debate real issues facing the city of Philadelphia. (Incumbent David Oh, and challengers Al Taubenberger and Dan Tinney were no-shows.) We asked them no questions; we gave them no rules. We just let them make the case for their candidacy. It wasn’t always fiery, but it did prove one thing: There are real candidates, with real ideas who deserved to be heard.

So who won? We’ll let you decide. See below for a recording of the debate, also sponsored by Committee of Seventy and Young Involved Philadelphia.

NO-HOLDS BARRED CITY COUNCIL MINORITY SEAT DEBATE

The Philadelphia Citizen will only publish thoughtful, civil comments. If your post is offensive, not only will we not publish it, we'll laugh at you while hitting delete.

Support Your Local Journalism. "With your help, we can be the antidote to the failures of big media, the bitterness of national politics, your post-election malaise and the confusion about what to do now" - Roxanne Patel Shepelavy, Executive Director, The Philadelphia Citizen. Button that says Give that leads to a donation page for end of year fundraising. Your gift will fund independent, local journalism and solutions for Philadelphia.

Be a Citizen Editor

Suggest a Story

Related Stories

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at [email protected] or call (609)-602-0145.