Click on the image to watch the full debate

This is a 59 minute video of last week’s City Controller debate held in Northeast Philadelphia. It features the three Democratic candidates, Alan Butkovitz, John Braxton and Brett Mandel. I’m really glad we have this video because it was a great debate. As you’ll see, all three candidates are passionate about this campaign and each offers a distinct approach to being the city’s fiscal watchdog. The debate was moderated by Chris Satullo, WHYY’s executive director for news and civic dialogue and a former editorial page editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

One of the great questions that came from the audience was on whose job is it in Philadelphia to catch people like Vince Fumo.  Fumo was a state senator from Philadelphia who was convicted in March on multiple counts of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice. You can watch this part by starting the video at 47:15.

They all agree that the City Controller is one of the people who should sound the alarm on public corruption. Both Brett Mandel and John Braxton accused incumbent Controller Alan Butkovitz, who is also a ward leader, of being too close to the Democratic machine in the city. The Controller said he is the only one in the room to have taken on Fumo. Butkovitz is referring to a time when his office began a performance audit the Philadelphia School District against the advice of Fumo.

The three candidates are fighting for the Democratic nomination that will be decided on May 19. The winner will go to face Republican Al Schmidt, who is a former senior analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office.