Will Philadelphia’s next mayor be a woman? These volunteers hope so

PHILADELPHIA — Early on Tuesday morning, community members, polling workers, and committee people alike were questioning whether there will be a winner for the city’s mayoral race after the polls close. 

At the 15th Ward polling station located on Brown Street in Fairmount, Philadelphia there were already some campaign workers set up outside on the sidewalks at 7 a.m.

“Should be an interesting day, the mayor’s race is pretty contested so it will be interesting to watch it unfold,” Amelia Cocchiara told the Capital-Star. 

Cocchiara was at the polls bright and early – there to encourage people to vote for Councilmember- at- Large, Isaiah Thomas. But she said she still hadn’t decided who she is voting for in the mayor’s race. She did say that she believes it is going to be a woman.

“I think it is going to be either [former City Councilmembers Helen] Gym, [Cherelle] Parker, or [former City Controller Rebecca] Rhynhart,” Cocchiara said.

Cocchiara isn’t the only person hoping for a change at the top, Dustin Dove a committee person in the 15th Ward is also hoping the next mayor is a woman.  Current Mayor Jim Kenney is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. 

“The top three are women, but I am supporting Rebecca Rhynhart. It would be really cool if [the next mayor] is a woman,” Dove told the Capital Star.

Dove recently has been involved in the voting community and getting people to the polling stations, he admitted that when he knocked on doors prior to election day people seemed to be overwhelmed by the number of candidates there are to choose from. 

“Usually there are not enough candidates, this time there are too many choices. But today there are a lot of people here – a lot of people from campaigns which is not what happened last time. So I don’t know what is going to happen,” Dove said.