PHILADELPHIA CITY CONTROLLER

Born and raised on the leafy-green streets of Northwest Philadelphia, Ari Patrinos embodies the spirit of his hometown. A proud graduate of Central High School, he benefited from Philadelphia’s once-renowned public school system before earning a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Harvard University and a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago. Following his academic achievements, Ari traveled extensively across Mexico, Central America, and South America, gaining a working proficiency in Spanish and a multicultural understanding of the problems we all face.

Upon returning to the United States, Ari moved to New York City to work in the financial sector, where he successfully passed the Series 7 & 63 financial examinations and two actuarial exams in probability and financial mathematics. He began his career as a stockbroker at a leading financial institution, applying his expertise in markets and investments.

Yet, despite his professional success, Ari never lost sight of the values instilled in him growing up—whether it was washing dishes in Chestnut Hill, working as a Quaker camp counselor, or cleaning gutters across Philadelphia. Determined to give back to the city that shaped him, Ari returned to Philadelphia to teach mathematics and history in local charter and public schools, striving to provide the same opportunities he once had.

During this time, he became engaged in civic discourse, writing on pressing social and political issues for national publications like The Federalist and local outlets such as The Chestnut Hill Local. After years of watching Philadelphia struggle under mismanagement and neglect from its public officials, Ari realized he could no longer stand idly by.

Now, he is running for City Controller to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and that every child in Philadelphia has the chance to succeed. With his deep financial expertise, commitment to accountability, and passion for his city, Ari is dedicated to restoring efficiency and integrity to Philadelphia’s government.

It’s time to put our city back on track. Ari Patrinos is ready to make a difference.

PA COMMONWEALTH COURT

Matt Wolford is a proven legal expert with a deep understanding of government and the law. Throughout his career, he has litigated cases in state and federal courts, as well as quasi-judicial state agencies, many of which were argued before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.

Matt is a small business owner practicing law as a solo practitioner in Erie, PA, where he concentrates on environmental law. Before going into private practice, he served as an Assistant Counsel and Regional Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Prior to joining the DEP, he was a prosecutor with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG), Environmental Crimes Section, in Meadville, PA, and later a civil litigation attorney for the OAG’s Torts Litigation Section in Philadelphia, PA. He also served as a special prosecutor for environmental crimes for both the OAG and the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Matt lectures regularly for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (now part of the Pennsylvania Bar Association) and has presented for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Enforcement Training Institute, the DEP, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania’s Minor Judiciary, the Erie County Bar Association, and various other county bar associations and organizations. He authored a chapter in The Law of Oil & Gas in Pennsylvania, focusing on oil and gas development on public lands, and was an adjunct professor at Gannon University in Erie, PA, where he taught a course on environmental law.

A longtime member of the Presque Isle State Park Complex Advisory Committee and the Presque Isle Partnership, Matt received his undergraduate degree from Penn State and his Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law. He is a member of the Erie County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He and his wife, Marian, are the proud parents of four children.

PA SUPERIOR COURT

Maria Battista is a lifelong resident of rural northwestern Pennsylvania, where she was raised and continues to live today. Her rural roots offer a valuable perspective and bring geographic diversity to the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Maria would be humbly honored to have your support on November 4th.

A graduate of Keystone High School and Clarion University, Maria earned her law degree from Ohio Northern University, and holds a Master’s in Education Administration from Westminster College and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh. Her career spans service as an attorney, prosecutor, mediator, educator, and hearing examiner, issuing hundreds of decisions.

Maria is a past President of the Clarion County Bar Association and served on the Safe and Effective Prescribing Practices Task Force with the Department of Health and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

Maria’s passion for qualified, fair, and independent courts began more than 15 years ago when she hosted a statewide legal symposium addressing judicial misconduct in the juvenile justice system. She remains committed to strengthening public trust and transparency in Pennsylvania’s courts.

With three degrees in education, including a focus on children with disabilities, Maria brings added insight to the many family and child-related cases handled by the Superior Court. She is also a strong resource for initiatives like Autism and the Courts.

Outside of her professional life, Maria enjoys biking local trails, kayaking, hiking, playing piano, and spending time with her two adult sons.