March 24, 2015

Chat with future City Council members at Candidate Convention

Young Involved Philadelphia, Committee of Seventy pair up for informative event

By Aubrey Nagle
PhillyVoice Contributor

Carroll - City Hall and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Philadelphia City Hall from the Parkway.

On Tuesday, May 19, Philadelphia citizens will choose the future leaders of the city. The mayoral race is getting all the attention leading up to election day, but all 17 seats of the City Council will be on the ballot, too. Do you know who you're voting for?

Young Involved Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to improving civic engagement, and the Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan election watchdog group, have teamed up to hold the first City Council Candidate Convention, hosted by WHYY. All of the declared candidates have been invited to engage with citizens April 2.

There will be opportunities for the constituents to interact with their prospective future council members and hear about their stances on important issues. The event is free and open to the public, though pre-registration is required.

If you're feeling particularly lost when it comes to this race, there will be a cheat sheet on the issues available to attendees. Committee of Seventy put together a "How City Council Works" guide, if you want to do a little homework beforehand.

The convention will include an opportunity for attendees to register to vote or update their registration with district information for first-time voters. Light fare and drinks will also be provided.