Phila. Council 7th District Primary

Manny Morales (D)

Need to Know

The Democratic City Committee rescinded its endorsement of Morales after racist, homophobic posts were found on the candidate’s Facebook page — posts he says he did not write.

Supported by the group Latinos United for Political Empowerment.

Serves as a block captain and Democratic committeeperson for the 62nd ward.

Challenger

Bio

A Democratic committeeperson in Northeast Philadelphia’s 62nd ward, Emanuel “Manny” Morales, 46, recently stepped down from his post as a labor-law investigator for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Morales, who grew up in Puerto Rico, moved to Philadelphia in 2006 after having served as a legislative assistant in the Commonwealth’s House of Representatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Puerto Rico’s Universidad del Este. He lives with his wife, Tisha and their five children in the lower Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Frankford.

Website | Facebook

Maria Quiñones-Sánchez (D)

Need to Know

Ran three times without support from the city’s Democratic party, but is currently backed by powerful Democrats including former Philadelphia mayor and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Successfully sponsored bills changing the city’s business tax structure and creating a land bank to consolidate the city’s vacant properties and package them for redevelopment.

First Latina to serve on City Council.

Incumbent

Bio

Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, 46, is running for a third term in the 7th District. She grew up in the city’s Hunting Park section and in 2007, became the first Latina elected to City Council and the first Puerto Rican/Latino to win a district seat. Before her election to City Council, Quiñones-Sánchez was Regional Director for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. She also served as the first female and youngest executive director of ASPIRA, the largest Latino educational institution in Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband, Tomas Sánchez in the North Philadelphia neighborhood of Norris Square.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Committee of Seventy contributed to this guide.