Low-key election expected in November
Monday, October 19th, 2009
In just more than two weeks, voters can race to the polling booth. Some names on the Philadelphia ballot may be more familiar than others, for City Controller, it's Democrat Alan Butkovitz and Republican Al Schmidt, and the District Attorney's race pits Republican Michael Untermeyer against Democrat Seth Williams.
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Richardson Dilworth is the Director of the Center for Public Policy at Drexel University. He says unless there's a last minute scandal involving the District Attorney or City Controller candidates, next month's general election will be a typical off year election.
Dilworth: I'd say that this has all of the trappings for being a very low turnout election. Traditionally you'd assume that in a low turn out election that's going to help the incumbent party which obviously in Philadelphia is the Democratic party.
Political observers say with local governments facing economic trouble, voters may want to pay special attention to the City Controller's race, since that person is responsible for auditing the financial operations of the City, including the Mayor's Office and City Council.