Also this issue: The Bye Line Was Lundy forced to Walker the plank? -Deborah Bolling Eighth Wonder The battle for this Northwest Council seat is anything but friendly. -Daryl Gale At-Large and In Charge -Daryl Gale The Jury's Out A roundup of judicial candidates in Tuesday's primary. -Mary F. Patel Gale Warning: SEPTA-fied The French Rejection The Bell Curve City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life Bite the Ballot

May 14-20, 2003

city beat

The Commish

A look at who's running for City Commissioner.

by Mary F. Patel

City Commissioners are responsible for all election activities. There are three seats, and the top two vote-getters from each party win the primary. In the general election, the top three win, but the minority party is guaranteed a seat.

Democratic Candidates

The incumbent is City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione, who is the chair. Considered the queen bee of city elections, Tartaglione is credited with the smooth implementation of new voting machines last year during a crucial Democratic gubernatorial primary. As leader of the 62nd Ward she rules with an iron fist. (Tartaglione is the only Democratic incumbent; the other seat has been vacant since Alexander Talmadge resigned to run for District Attorney in 2001.)

Donna Aument is the former leader of the 33rd Ward. Although she lost a nasty fight against Councilman Rick Mariano¹s candidate, Candido Silva, last year, she still has a lot of support in her old ward.

Warren Bloom is a committeeman and a radio personality.

Anthony Clark is an administrative deputy for the Register of Wills and leader of the 28th Ward. He is also the coordinator for African-American ward leaders.

Edgar Howard is the legislative director for state Rep. Dwight Evans and has been campaigning for the commissioner¹s seat for the last two years. He is leader of the 10th Ward.

Sandra Mills is the political director for hospital workers union Local 1199C and has union support.

Republican Candidates

Joseph Duda is an incumbent and has the backing of the party. He was formerly the executive director of the Republican City Committee and is leader of Ward 66 A and B.

Bruce Reed is a former special deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service. He last ran for sheriff in 1995, when he wore a ten-gallon hat while campaigning.