City Council President Anna Verna can order a special election to fill three vacant Council seats as early as today, but several local groups are calling the process undemocratic.
Because Verna announced the election in August - therefore eliminating the possibility of a primary - ward leaders, not voters, will select the party nominees.
But a coalition of local political groups - including the Pennsylvania PAC for Progress, Philly for Change and Neighborhood Networks - have spoken out against the lack of a primary, calling for city Democratic Chairman Bob Brady and Republican Chairman Vito Caruso to make changes to the current format.
PA PAC for Progress Executive Director Ray Murphy said his group is requesting that both parties decline to nominate candidates and instead allow all interested persons to file as independents, Murphy said.
"Council people control a $3 billion budget annually," he added. "To put someone in that seat who has no qualifications or the support of the voters is unconscionable."
But Caruso said state laws prevent himself and Brady from making changes.
"We have bylaws that dictate how this process goes," Caruso said. "We're playing by the rules, [and] they want us to make it up as we go along."
Brady could not be reached for comment.
Verna said in a statement that the elections will allow the council to "be better able to carry out the powers and duties entrusted to it."
The three seats all became vacant within the past year. Michael Nutter gave up his 4th District seat after resigning in July to run for mayor. Rick Mariano of the 7th District also resigned after being convicted of federal corruption charges in May. At-large councilman David Cohen died last year at the age of 90.
Verna had previously not decided to hold the special election after the single at-large seat became vacant last fall, Verna's spokesman Tony Radwanski said.
After the two additional seats opened up, however, Verna "didn't think it was proper that [City Council] would go with 14 members until January of 2008," Radwanski said.
If not nominated by either party, candidates will be able to declare as independents by filing a nomination petition, which would require 1969 signatures for the at-large seat and 750 signatures for the two district seats, deputy city commissioner Ed Schulgen said.
Several candidates have expressed interest in running, including Carol Campbell, Ray Bailey, and Matt McClure for the 4th District; Marnie Aumont and Maria Quinones-Sanchez for the 7th District; and Florence Cohen, Bill Greenlee, Mayor John Street's son Sharif Street, Mark Stier and Derek Green for the at-large seat.
After Verna officially orders the election, politicians will have 15 days to file their candidacy.
