Two NEasters running for City Controller

By Christopher Wink

No one knows from which neighborhood, but it does seem next year Philadelphia’s city controller will almost certainly be from the Northeast.

Since 2005, Alan Butkovitz has been charged with overseeing the fiscal sanctity of city government. Butkovitz, who grew up in Overbrook and went to Temple, now lives in the Northeast with his wife and two children in Castor Gardens – what neighborhood hasn’t yet been confirmed.

What’s notable is Butkovitz’s primary challenger in May’s Democratic primary for the controller position is Brett Mandel, executive director of tax policy think tank Philadelphia Forward and, it turns out, a Northeast native himself.

In a WHYY blog post on the contest, Alan Tu links to Mandel’s recent contribution to WHYY’s “I Believe” radio essay address, in which Mandel talks about his sense of place and mentions growing up in the Northeast – without detailing the neighborhood. Turns out, Mandel grew up in Rhawnhurst ( a complete interview to come soon, if you have any questions for either let us know them!).

While the rest of the city is satisfied with a description that constitutes a 300,000-person swath of the city, NEastPhilly.com is in pursuit of the details.

If you have them, let us know below or contact us here. If not, check back, we’ll bring you the details and interviews with both Butkovitz and Mandel, so if you’re a Democrat, you can choose the right NEaster in May.

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Forward.