Here's an unedited comment from a reader named john:
what about the republicans are they not electing ward leader also its about time you cover both not just one i heard that here were like 10 or so new republican ward leaders or so.
john has a valid point. I did some digging and found this mention of the elections for Republican ward leaders in Gar Joseph's Clout Column from Friday's Daily News:
On the Republican side, Eva Caraballo claims she knocked off incumbent Ellen Maenner, 6-4 in the 7th ward. Maenner charges there were many improprieties and is contesting the outcome.
Whoa, 6-4, a real barn burner.
If anyone out there has any more news about Republican ward leader elections you can comment to this entry or email it here.
john, I have a feeling there'd be more coverage of those elections if the Philly GOP would start seriously talking about a candidate for mayor and not depending on Philadelphia Magazine to pick one for them.
UPDATE: Ok, a little more digging (and a fortuitous trip past one of those ubiquitous blue honor boxes) uncovered more comprehensive results for the ward leader elections on both the Democratic and Republican sides. The following comes from The Philadelphia Public Record:
Republicans saw some ward leader changes as their ward committees came together on Monday night as well. Local activist Eva Carabello has taken over the 7th Ward from veteran leader Ellen Maenner, while the 51st welcomed former 46th Ward Leader Andrew Gentsch. He replaced Albert Myers. Mark Supple has taken over the reins of the 46th.
Other changes include Mike Neiser who is now responsible for the 56th, Scott Cummings in the 62nd replacing Phil Pappas, and Tom McDevitt in the 65th replacing Tom Lynch.
Veteran Ward Leader Bruce Harris was re-elected in the 44th. He has helped recruit new GOP leadership in the following wards: Joe Thomas, Jr., who took over the 4th; Westley Ames, the 6th; Dwayne Peel, the 10th; Jeffrey Dickinson, the 13th; and Lamont Foreman, the 52nd.
Harris feels more can be done for his area of the City. "I'm in the heart of 52nd and Market and West Philadelphia. We need to pressure the city to get more things done here. The conditions here are deplorable."
William Mulgrew, 21-year-old Drexel student, is now the leader of the 24th Ward.
Who knows? Maybe one of them will run for the Republican nomination for mayor.