Phila. Council 2nd District Primary
For the November 2015 Philadelphia Voters Guide, click here.
Ori Feibush (D)
Need to Know
Real estate developer from Point Breeze. Owner and founder of OCF Realty and OCF Coffee House, a small Philadelphia chain.
Vows to get out of the redevelopment side of his business if elected and says he has already divested from all but one of his properties, a large warehouse in Point Breeze.
Reputation for being outspoken and aggressive. The city of Philadelphia once threatened to sue Feibush for cleaning up an abandoned lot he did not own next to one of his properties.
Challenger
Bio
Feibush, 31, graduated from Temple University in 2006, receiving degrees in economics, risk management, and actuarial science. Following graduation he moved to Point Breeze, where he currently lives. Feibush founded OCF Realty in 2008, focusing on development projects in Point Breeze. In addition to his real estate development projects, he opened three OCF Coffee Houses in Philadelphia. Along with his business ventures, Feibush has worked on several neighborhood improvement programs and founded the Point Breeze Community Development Corporation.
Kenyatta Johnson (D)
Need to Know
Running for a second term with backing from powerful Philadelphia Democrats, including former Gov. Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter.
Successfully sponsored bills extending tax breaks under the city’s Longtime Owner Occupants Program, banning 3D-printed guns and fining pet owners who leave animals outside in cold weather.
In 2014, Johnson’s anti-violence organization Peace Not Guns falsely claimed to be a federally-registered 501(c)3 — a requirement for soliciting donations. Johnson is no longer on the board of Peace Not Guns, which he says is “in the process” of filing for federal status.
Incumbent
Bio
Johnson is running for re-election in the 2nd District and, at 42, is the youngest member of City Council. Born and raised in Point Breeze, Johnson started his political career as a senate staffer in Harrisburg. In 2008, he was elected State Rep. for the 186th Legislative District and served one and a half terms. He left the Statehouse to begin his first term on City Council in January 2012, after narrowly beating real estate developer Barbara Capozzi in the 2011 primary.
Johnson is a disciple of the late Democratic State Sen. Hardy Williams, the father of the mayoral candidate and current State Sen. Anthony Williams. Johnson’s wife, Dawn Chavous is Sen. Williams’ Chief of Staff. They live in Point Breeze with their 6-month-old son.
Johnson earned his B.A. from Mansfield University in 2006 and holds a master’s degree in government administration from the Fels Institute of Government at University of Pennsylvania.
Committee of Seventy contributed to this guide.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Hundreds of Pennsylvania voters are challenged based on postal service’s change-of-address database
Counties in Philly’s suburbs are being asked to reject some mail-in ballot applications in what the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said are illegal challenges.
11 mins ago
Facing fallout, Trump claims no president did more for Puerto Rico than he did
Speaking at an event in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, Trump sought to move past the controversy unleashed by a “joke” about Puerto Rico told at his Madison Square Garden rally.
28 mins ago
A clumsy early voting option has backed up election offices in Pennsylvania and frustrated voters
The new procedure in Pennsylvania is leading to hours-long lines as voters swamp county offices that aren't prepared to handle the influx before Election Day.
49 mins ago