Independent candidates file nominating petitions

The deadline for independent candidates to file petitions for the November election passed Monday with a handful of candidates saying they hoped to beat the odds in a city with a virtual one-party rule.

In the mayor's race, Democratic nominee Jim Kenney and Republican nominee Melissa Murray Bailey are being challenged by, among others, a Mount Airy newspaper publisher and a Walmart employee from Germantown. A former member of Mayor Nutter's administration and a science teacher are among those joining the City Council at-large fray.

All face steep odds. Elections official Tim Dowling, who has been at his post nearly three decades, said he can't remember a third-party candidate winning a major office.

Many on Monday didn't seem discouraged.

"We run to win," said Osborne Hart, a 63-year-old member of the Socialist Workers Party who is running for mayor on a joint ticket alongside Council at-large candidate John Staggs. "That's why we're here today, to be on the ballot. We'll campaign very vigorously for working people."

Hart and Staggs, 68, both Walmart employees who have made unsuccessful bids for elected office before, said they are advocating to raise the minimum wage and to prosecute police accused of brutality.

James Foster, 72, a publisher of two community newspapers who is running for mayor as an independent, said he sees a chance to draw support from voters who did not vote in the primary because they were dissatisfied with the candidates.

"I think that there's enough people in Philadelphia that recognize just how fractured the government is," he said. "There's a lot of apathy. There's a lot of nonparticipation because the perspective is, there isn't even anyone to consider."

Boris Kindij, an independent candidate, also filed petitions to run for mayor Monday.

Candidates for mayor and Council at-large needed at least 1,350 signatures, while those running for district Council offices needed 750.

Those running under third parties for Council are vying for the two at-large seats reserved for the minority party, which are now held by Dennis O'Brien and David Oh, both of whom are seeking reelection.

Traditionally, those seats have been held by Republicans. But nothing prevents third-party candidates from running.

Andrew Stober stepped down as chief of staff in the Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities in May to enter the at-large race as an independent. Also running is Kristin Combs, a science teacher at Penn Treaty School and member of the Green Party.

Former mayoral candidate Sam Katz and former Councilman Bill Green last week ruled out the possibility that they would create their own party and run for Council.

The following also filed petitions:

Glenn Davis, chair of the city's Green Party, is running for City Commissioner.

Bobbie T. Curry, an independent, is running for Council in the Ninth District. Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco is retiring. State Rep. Cherelle L. Parker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Leah Wright and Michael Galganski are both running for Council as part of the Free Dominion party, which identifies itself on Facebook as a newly-formed party that "argues for the dignifying prerogative of individual choice concerning public domain." Wright is running in the Fifth District and Galganski in the Eight District.

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@TriciaNadolny