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What is one life experience you have that voters should know about?
I grew up in a working class family which at times faced significant financial
hardship, including eviction. But I learned from watching my parents head off
to the factory the value of hard work and from a young age, I did what I had
to earn extra money, everything from shining shoes, delivering newspapers
to mopping floors as a janitor after wrestling practice in high school. I took
college night classes and worked during the day, before I graduated and
started my own business and helped create hundreds of good jobs. I am
proud to be the only candidate for mayor who has successfully built a
company from the ground up.
What would be your top three policy priorities in office?
Philadelphia is in a crisis -- we have a public safety crisis, a jobs crisis, an
education crisis and a crisis of affordable housing. But most importantly, we
have a crisis of leadership in the mayor's office. As mayor, I will restore
confidence in city government by building and implementing real plans to
add:
1) Community safety: I am proud to be the only candidate to have released a
comprehensive plan to improve public safety in every community, with a 10
point action plan for my first 100 days.
2) Economic opportunity and jobs: Philadelphia has the
highest-among-big-cities poverty rate and one of the lowest business
formation rates in the country. If we are going to address our city's poverty,
we must provide residents with real economic opportunity. I believe as
important as it is to have more people working at good wages, it is critical
Philadelphia increase the number of entrepreneurs and neighborhood
business leaders.
3) Restoring lost faith and trust in government. Philadelphia is headed on the
wrong track, and its seeming inability to provide community safety, fix our
crumbling schools or provide basic city services is causing people to lose faith
in our collective future. As mayor, I will focus on what is most important, hire
and support qualified leaders for each city department, and hold them -- and
myself -- accountable for results.
What sets you apart from other candidates?
There are two things which set me apart from the other candidates: my
experience and vision. I am the only candidate who has significant
experience in the private sector and in city government. I built a successful
business from the ground up, and, when I saw the city government wasn't
working as it should, I ran for city Council. During my seven years on Council,
I focused on helping small businesses thrive, workers keep more of their
money, and ensuring that taxpayer money was being used effectively and
efficiently. I donated my entire salary as a member of City Council to our
schools and education programs and refused perks and a pension. I’ve
focused on getting results, not making promises. And that experience is why I
have a different vision for Philadelphia's future. I believe the best way, if not
the only way, to address Philadelphia’s significant challenges is by focusing
on what is most important. Taking the most violent off our streets. Getting
more people working at better paying jobs and supporting the next
generation of job creating entrepreneurs. Increasing affordable housing.
Making sure every child can learn. Fixing our roads, picking up the garbage
and replacing street lights.
How do you plan to work across ideological lines to achieve shared goals?
During my seven years on Council, I tried to work with every one of my
colleagues to make progress on the most important issues facing
Philadelphia. I did this because, while in politics, there can only be one
winner, my background in business taught me that there can be shared
progress. That is certainly true in government as well as business and as
mayor, I will work with anyone and everyone who wants to make
Philadelphia stronger, fairer and more inclusive.
The Committee of Seventy has partnered with the Carter Center to promote the Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections to improve the voting process, encourage honest leadership, and promote civic engagement. Do you support the Candidate Principles?
Yes
