David Oh - (CANDIDATE) Mayor
David Oh served as a Republican member of the Philadelphia City Council, and OUR voice for at-large council from 2012 to 2023. He was the first Asian American elected to the city council.
After graduating from Dickinson College and Rutgers Law School, Councilman Oh became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, then worked for several years as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia. He resigned to serve in the Army National Guard for four years, before returning to Philadelphia to open his own law firm. Councilman Oh lives in Southwest Philadelphia with his wife, Heesun, and their four children.
Drew Murray - (CANDIDATE) City Council At-Large
Drew Murray was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburb of Villanova, PA. His four years attending St. Joseph's Prep at 17th & Girard made him fall in love with the vibrancy of Philadelphia. After St. Joseph's Prep, Drew received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. In January of 2002, Drew received his Master of Business Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
Drew is the proud husband of Kristy Moses Murray and father of two daughters, Scarlett and Alexandra. He moved to the Logan Square neighborhood in 2004. Driven by the Jesuit ideal instilled in him at St. Joseph's Prep, Drew became heavily engaged in serving his community. In 2011 he became a Board Member of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA), as well as the President of the Friends of Coxe Park. As a Board Member, Drew helped start an annual school fair whose purpose is to demonstrate to young parents that there are numerous educational opportunities available to young children in the City of Philadelphia. From 2015 to 2019, Drew served as President of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. In addition to being a Board Member of LSNA, Drew serves as the Chairman to the Philadelphia Crosstown Coalition, is a Board Member of the Center City District, is on the Finance Council of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and is the leader of Philadelphia's 15th Ward. Drew has proven to be a dynamic leader in both his professional career and his civic engagement.
Drew has spent the entirety of his career at O'Brien Systems, Inc. In his role as Regional Sales Manager, Drew has managed thousands of projects and has over 25 years of experience in the design, supply and installation of high density storage systems and casework solutions
Drew's proven track record of leadership is what makes him an ideal candidate for City Council. In this challenging and sometime toxic political environment, leadership and a moral compass are paramount to our country, our state and the City of Philadelphia. Drew offers a Republican view that provides a balance of perspective needed in Philadelphia's City Council.
Jim Hasher - (CANDIDATE) City Council At-Large
Jim Hasher was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, where he currently resides and works. Jim, together with his dear wife Stacie, raised 5 sons in the Torresdale neighborhood.
Being ingrained in the community around him, Jim spends ample time leading several volunteer organizations that provide opportunities for the youth of our city to flourish and grow. Jim has served for 25 years as the Athletic Director and President of Torresdale Boys Club, one of the
largest youth clubs in Philadelphia. Jim also founded the Northeast Sting, a prominent AAU basketball program that has served thousands of players and provided a unique opportunity for boys of all ages to not only participate in high-level basketball competition all over the country, but to grow and connect with players from all over the city. Jim continues to coach for both Torresdale and St. Katherine of Siena, his home Catholic Church where he celebrates Mass weekly. In addition to his volunteerism, he often facilitates fundraisers for young fighters to travel and participate in out-of-state boxing tournaments- a cause he has been passionate about since his own young days in the ring.
Professionally, Jim has found success through multiple avenues in his 35 years in business. He is the president of Hasher Realty, Inc., providing superior full-service real estate expertise in Philadelphia since 1991. More recently, Jim has ventured into the service industry as the owner and operator of Jimmy's Timeout Sports Pub; transforming a local eyesore into a cherished and celebrated neighborhood restaurant. Jim's other ventures over the years include RE/MAX Metropolitan, Inc, First Platinum Abstract, and Pro-Tec Restoration, Inc.- all of which have contributed to Jim's unique knowledge and experience around small business in Philadelphia.
Jim's expertise is not solely limited to business and his community; he is also well-versed and experienced in the public offices in Philadelphia. He was appointed Chief Deputy in Charge for Community Affairs for the PA Athletic Commission; served as the 65th Ward Leader; ran as a Congressional Candidate for the 3rd Congressional District in 1994; and managed a victorious campaign for a Republican candidate for a Council at-large seat in 2004. Jim's actions in the city of Philadelphia speak for themselves. His selfless work in his community and surrounding areas serves and provides for the young men and women that will lead our city in the future. He understands the necessary support that is needed for the small businesses and working-class families that make up our cherished city communities. He is already doing the tremendously integral work to better his neighborhood and improve the quality of life in Philadelphia. That dedication and effort will only continue with additional resources, leadership and collaboration in the position of City Council.
Gary Grisafi - (CANDIDATE) City Council At-Large
Gary Grisafi was raised in the Oxford Circle section of Northeast Philadelphia and now resides in the Burholme section with his wife. Gary attended Cardinal Dougherty High School and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he majored in Music. He has been teaching music (guitar) since 1985. Gary is a small business owner which includes two music schools.
Gary has been a professional musician for the past 42 years. He has performed with Al Martino, for the Rachel Ray show, Lee Andrews & the Hearts, Bobby Rydell, Stewkey from the “NAZZ”, Tina Robin, Bandstand and many other local bands. Gary Performed the USO tour 1985 to 1988.
Gary Grisafi is also the Republican Ward leader of the 53rd Ward since 2013 and has been a committeeman since 1999. Gary was an elected Delegate for the Republican National Convention in 2020 and was an Alternate Delegate in 2016, representing the Pennsylvania Delegation in Cleveland.
He was formally employed by City Councilman Al Taubenberger as a Constituent Services Representative. Gary also was a candidate for City Council in 2007 and 2006 and State Representative in 2004 and 2002. He is presently Vice-President of Burholme Town Watch and Civic Association.
Mary Jane Kelly - (CANDIDATE) City Council At-Large
Mary Jane Kelly is a lifelong dedicated Philadelphia native who was born and raised in Fishtown. She is currently a proud resident of Delaire Landing in Northeast Philadelphia.
Mary Jane Kelly is the daughter of a World War II veteran and a Philadelphia Firefighter. She proudly serves her community as a member of the 65th Ward Republican Committee.
After completing her education at Saint Boniface Business School, she began a long and fulfilling career with the Philadelphia Court System, where she worked as a Court Clerk for 26 years before retiring.
Since retiring, she has been working for the past 15 years as a Premium Service Hostess at the Philadelphia Phillies.
Frank Cristinzio - (CANDIDATE) City Council At-Large
Frank Cristinzio is a lifelong resident of the Kensington- Harrowgate section of Philadelphia. Frank graduated from North Catholic in 1972. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Spring Garden College in 1977. Upon receiving his Degree, Frank was employed by several manufacturing firms working with heavy industrial machinery. Subsequently, Frank was employed in the Maintenance Department of the Philadelphia Parking Authority. He left that job on February 10, 2023 to run as a Republican Candidate for City Council-at-Large.
Frank has witnessed firsthand the devastating effect the large scale movement of the once plentiful good paying industrial jobs to foreign countries has had on both his neighborhood and the City of Philadelphia as a whole during his lifetime. He also watched our City Government's faint-hearted attempts to try retain these businesses. Frank has been a Republican Committee person in the 45th Ward since 1990.
While most other college educated professional residents fled his Kensington-Harrowgate neighborhood as it declined, Frank, like our Republican Candidate for Mayor, David Oh, has remained in the neighborhood where he was born.
As a lifelong resident of this now drug addiction related crime- ridden Kensington-Harrowgate neighborhood, Frank believes that the only way to reduce the crime rates that plague both his neighborhood and the city of Philadelphia is both a fully funded and staffed Philadelphia Police Department and for that strengthened police department to utilize the "broken windows" theory of policing as set forth by James Wilson and George Keeling. Frank is absolutely opposed to so-called "safe injection sites" in both his neighborhood and everywhere else in Philadelphia.
Frank also believes that our City Government must monitor the activities of the city funded drug recovery half houses that are located both in his Kensington- Harrowgate neighborhood and other neighborhoods throughout our City more closely. While some of those half way houses do great work, there are others that merely serve as flop houses for drug addicted people.
Frank is a strong proponent of both the charter schools and the private school choice movement. He believes that parents know what is best for their children and not the public educational bureaucracy that exists here and most other U.S. cities. Thus, parents should have the freedom to choose whatever they believe is the best educational choice for their children, regardless of whether that choice is a traditional public school, a charter school, or receiving vouchers so that attending a private or parochial school is a possibility.
Brian O'Neill - (INCUMBENT) City Council District 10
Brian O’Neill has served as a Republican member of the Philadelphia City Council since 1980. The son of a Philadelphia police officer, Councilman O’Neill graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in 1971 and Widener University School of Law in 1975.
Prior to his election, he was a Juvenile Probation Officer, Law Clerk in the Court of Common Pleas and attorney in private practice. Councilman O’Neill chairs City Council’s Technology and Information Services Committee.
Councilman Brian O’Neill is OUR voice for the 10th Council District in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia. He is best known for service, accessibility, and preventing and fighting unwanted development in his district.
He is also a proactive supporter of volunteer non-profit organizations throughout his district. In addition to his City Hall office, Brian maintains four full-time district offices where he meets personally with constituents.
In City Hall, O'Neill fights to protect his district’s neighborhoods by investing in recreation centers, parks, and libraries. O'Neill’s main goal is preserving and improving the high quality of life that families in the Far Northeast have come to enjoy.
Seth Bluestein - (INCUMBENT) City Commissioner
Seth Bluestein has served as City Commissioner – one of three members of the Board of Elections in charge of election operations and voter registration for the City of Philadelphia – since February 2022. Prior to serving as Commissioner, Seth was Chief Deputy Commissioner for former City Commissioner Al Schmidt. Seth began working in the Office of the City Commissioners in 2012 as a Deputy Commissioner before being promoted to Chief Deputy Commissioner in 2017. From 2018 through 2021, Seth also served as the department’s Chief Integrity Officer.
Seth has spent the past ten years serving Philadelphia voters, with a focus on ensuring our elections remain fair, secure, and accessible. He has overseen election integrity investigations and quality control audits for the department. An advocate for transparency, Seth has worked to transform the department’s website, communications, and open data initiatives.
A lifelong Philadelphian, Seth earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
Mark LaVelle - (CANDIDATE) Sheriff
Mark is a lifelong resident of the Riverwards, he has attended school here, started a family here and has coached many sports teams here and continues to this day. Mark is a “neighborhood guy” always there for a fellow neighbor for whatever they may need. If it is a cleanup, charity fundraiser, or a rally for our police he is always there. You may even find an Easter egg around the neighborhood filled with treats that Mark has left for his community. The number one asset Mark brings to the table is his commitment to his community and everyone in it. It is that same commitment to his community and Philadelphia as a whole that has prompted Mark to run for sheriff.
Linwood Holland - (CANDIDATE) Register of Wills
Linwood Holland, Jr. was born and raised in the Strawberry Mansion section of North Philadelphia. When attending Junior High School, he was presented an opportunity to represent Philadelphia in the Youth Leadership Institute, which sent inner city children to Scranton, PA and Harrisburg, PA to act out as Politicians, competing against his peers in the various cities. After leaving High School, he attended Slippery Rock State College. He left school to enter into the United States Navy, where he remained for eight years and received various medals and awards.
After leaving the U.S. Navy he took a job with Temple University as an Administrative Assistant. Two years after working for Temple University, he left for SmithKline & French Pharmaceuticals where he worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Research and Development Department. Eventually, he moved to the Community Behavioral Health System of Philadelphia where he was an Administrative Assistant, until moving to the Community Relations Department to organize health events for the CBH. At the time, he also worked part time at the Philadelphia Youth Study System, where he was a mentor and career instructor for troubled youth. He is currently employed by Americans For Prosperity, PA, as a Community Engagement Director.
In 1997 he was introduced to the Republican Party by a co-worker, who now is a Ward Leader. He continued his political involvement by looking for ways to become more active in the party. He learned to knock on doors, taking petitions around to be signed. He has worked on numerous campaigns, and he has supported the Republican party in every avenue possible. This hard work and dedication has lead to him becoming the Ward Chairman of the 35th Republican Ward, a position which he has held for many years. In 2015, he officially became the 35th GOP Ward Leader. Shortly after, he was appointed to Pennsylvania State Committee. He is the former Vice President of the Republican Voters League (RVL) and a Registered Community Organizer (RCO) for the 35th Ward in Philadelphia.
Linwood is the eldest of seven brothers and sisters and a proud father of four. He has learned many great lessons and thanks all the people who took the time to mentor him throughout his life. All this has made him a strong and complete person with a mission to help all the people of our society. He is grateful for the support he has received.
Aaron Bashir - (CANDIDATE) Controller
AARON BASHIR is a proud American Christian, an educator, an entrepreneur, a husband, and a father of three children.
AARON'S VISION
Aaron’s vision is to make Philadelphia, a safer and a desirable place to live and work in. AARON BASHIR wants to make Philadelphia a safer city with better performing schools. AARON BASHIR believes in stronger economy with secure borders and the policies that would put American people first. AARON’s emphasis is on lower taxes and smaller government to strengthen working families with a specific focus on creating and sustaining well paying jobs for hard working families. AARON BASHIR is a strong advocate of seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and small business owners. AARON BASHIR would focus on:
1. SAFER & STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS
AARON BASHIR would strive to make lives of all the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania residents safer and secure by providing full support to law enforcement agencies and mutual cooperation to neighborhood residents, community leaders, faith based institutions, small business owners and our police officers to preserve the quality of life for all of us where we can live a happy life and raise our families in a safer environment to fulfill our American dream.
We need safer neighborhoods, and AARON BASHIR would definitely work hard to reduce violence and crimes through community engagements to find common sense solutions of our problems with insights from all the stake holders. United, Safer, and Secure Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and America is in every one’s best interest, and that is what AARON BASHIR wants to achieve for us.
2. JOBS, SCHOOL CHOICE, FAMILY VALUES, SMALL BUSINESSES & AMERICA FIRST POLICIES
Aaron would optimize and utilize our resources to create and secure IT, Trade, and energy-related jobs since Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest natural energy source. Also, advocating for Small Businesses, Working Families, Jobs, School Choice, Family Values, America First Policies, is AARON BASHIR’s agenda. Fighting for Seniors, Veterans, Students, People with Disabilities and supporting our communities and Police Officers will be Aaron’s top priority.
3. PROMOTE UNITY
AARON BASHIR would strive to bring unity and mutual understanding in our neighborhoods. Regardless of political affiliations, color, race, ethnicity, beliefs, preferences, and differences, Aaron would stand for all of us for protecting our interests and rights. We need a voice in congress, and AARON BASHIR would be our real voice. Let’s stand together to vote for AARON BASHIR. God bless America!