Mayoral Candidates Forum 

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Presented by Citizens and sponsored by 6abc
Meet the Next Mayor 
Contributed by 10k Independents Project and chatGPT

On March 8, the Center City Business Association hosted a forum for the candidates running for Philadelphia mayor. Meet the Next Mayor was moderated by Rick Williams, a veteran news anchor for Channel 6 Action News, and featured all of the candidates who have announced their run for mayor.

The forum was an opportunity for the candidates to share their plans to improve Philadelphia, make it a great place to live and work, and to open, grow, and sustain a business. The candidates were asked a variety of questions by business leaders from all over the city, including members, the board, and business leaders who have spoken at Center City Business Association programs throughout the year.

What Are Your Top Three Priorities to Attract and Retain Successful Businesses in Philadelphia? The top priorities mentioned by the candidates were:

  • Jeff Brown: Safety, strong leadership, simplify business regulations, address poverty.

  • Jimmy DeLeon: Safety, reduce gun violence become a hub for black and brown initial public offerings, reduce generational poverty

  • Allan Domb: Violence, leadership, education, taxes to attract more business

  • Derek Green: Safety, reduce taxes, make it easier to do business

  • Helen Gym: Vibrant residential and business-friendly corridor, education for families and our future, cleanliness,

  • David Oh: Safety and police, attract investment and employers, tax reform

  • Cherelle Parker: Attract and retain businesses, safety and cleanliness, provide access to economic opportunities, grow hope and pride, get our own hose in order

  • María Quiñones Sánchez: Tax reform, workforce development, education

  • Rebecca Rhynhart: Safety, criminal justice reform, cut down on red tape, tax reform

Other questions covered included:

  • What specific steps would you take to address your priorities?

  • The challenges that we hear about the most from businesses, are crime, homelessness/aggressive panhandling, and trash. How would you solve one of these issues?

  • In regard to the proposed Sixers Arena on Market Street East adjacent to Chinatown: Do you support or oppose the construction and operation at that proposed site? Do you think the major governmental decisions regarding the Sixers Arena should be left to the Next Mayor and City Council who will have to deal with the implications of these decisions?

  • What have you done, or accomplished that SHOWS us that you have what it takes, the stamina and the determination, to lead the city?”

The forum showcased the candidates' differing priorities and approaches to improving the city. However, there was a common theme among all the candidates: the need to make Philadelphia a safer city. Each candidate offered their own unique ideas for how to achieve this, including increasing police presence, reducing gun violence, and improving technology and infrastructure.

Additionally, several candidates emphasized the need to make it easier for businesses to operate in Philadelphia, through tax reform and simplifying regulations. Education and workforce development were also key issues, with candidates proposing plans to improve schools and provide training for the city's workforce.

The forum offered a glimpse into the candidates' plans for the future of Philadelphia, and provided an opportunity for business leaders and residents to hear directly from the candidates about their ideas and priorities. As the election approaches, it will be interesting to see how these plans evolve and which candidate ultimately emerges as the next mayor of Philadelphia. 

You can view a full recording of the event HERE.

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