Inquirer Editorial: Inquirer endorsements

Voters on Tuesday will launch Mayor Nutter on his second term, reshape City Council, pick two new judges for the state appellate courts, return several senators to Trenton, and elect a raft of other candidates to the lower courts and row offices.

As a mayor who is a pragmatic optimist, MICHAEL NUTTER has made progress on reducing deadly gun violence, raising ethical standards in City Hall, and making the city a leader in green initiatives with bike lanes and riverfront parkland. An improving economy should mean Nutter can focus more on the government reforms that first attracted so many Philadelphians to his candidacy.

In other contests, here is a recap of Inquirer recommendations:

For Superior Court, a Pittsburgh judge, DAVID N. WECHT, brings a record as an innovator whom state bar association officials gave their coveted "highly recommended" rating. For Commonwealth Court, Bucks County attorney ANNE E. COVEY offers quasi-judicial experience from serving on the state's labor relations board.

Back in the city, two change agents for city commissioner in charge of elections are STEPHANIE SINGER and AL SCHMIDT.

In contested district races for City Council, BRIAN O'NEILL offers Northeast Philadelphia several decades of thoughtful and conscientious experience on Council. Also facing challengers are KENYATTA JOHNSON, a veteran state representative seeking a South Philadelphia seat, congressional aide CINDY BASS in the Germantown-Chestnut Hill area, union aide BOBBY HENON in the Lower Northeast, and West Philadelphia incumbent JANNIE BLACKWELL.

Five best choices for Council at-large are: longtime state representative DENNIS O'BRIEN, and Council veterans JIM KENNEY, BILL GREEN, BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN, and WILSON GOODE JR.

For register of wills, LINDA BATEMAN offers a fresh outlook. For sheriff, state lawmaker JEWELL WILLIAMS has the requisite experience.

Vote YES on city ballot questions that would set up a rainy-day fund and provide needed capital dollars. But vote NO on three poorly rated city judges seeking new terms: James M. DeLeon, James Murray Lynn, and Robert J. Rebstock.

New Jersey Sens. STEPHEN M. SWEENEY, DIANE ALLEN, JAMES BEACH, DONALD NORCROSS, and FRED MADDEN deserve another term in the Legislature.

Jersey voters should vote NO on a misguided ballot question that could allow a risky bet on sports betting at Atlantic City's casinos and four racetracks.