Donna Gentile O'Donnell Considering Running in the 8th Councilmanic District

The race for the 8th Councilmanic district sure is getting crowded.

Public policy consultant Donna Gentile O'Donnell, who has been considering running for Council at-large, says that she's seriously looking at the 8th District in Northwest Philadelphia instead.

"The 8th is a lot more appealing because it's an open seat," said O'Donnell, who ran unsuccessfully for Council at-large in 1999, finishing in sixth place, just out of reach of one of the five Democratic at-large seats.

Through the end of 2010, O'Donnell had raised $24,619 for a Council bid, according to campaign finance reports filed this week. She said she's currently trying to see if she can get upwards of $100,000 in the bank for the campaign.

"I'm dialing for dollars, no money, no campaign," she said.

O'Donnell has a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. Her husband Bob O'Donnell is a former Democratic Speaker of the state House of Representatives.

Several candidates have already declared for the 8th, which is shaping up as one of the year's most competitive races. Cindy Bass, an aide to U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, community leader and former Council staffer Verna Tyner and former ward leader Greg Paulmier are among those seeking the seat.