The 22nd Ward Open Caucus, composed of duly elected independent Democratic committee people and residents in the 22nd Ward (Mt. Airy), has announced its endorsements for the General Election on Nov. 7 following member discussion and a vote.

In the City Council At-Large race, they endorsed Working Families Party candidates, Council Member Kendra Brooks and Rev. Nicolas O’Rourke, as well as Rue Landau, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, and Isaiah Thomas.

The group did not endorse in the 8th District City Councilmanic, Register of Wills, or Sheriff races. 

The Caucus’ endorsed candidates: Mayor: Cherelle Parker; Supreme Court: Daniel McCaffrey; Superior Court: Timika Lane and Jill Beck; Commonwealth Court: Matt Wolf; Common Pleas: Natasha Taylor-Smith; Tamika Washington; Samantha Williams; Kay Yu; John Padova; Chesley Lightsey; Brian McLaughlin; Damaris Garcia; Caroline Turner; and Jessica Brown; Municipal Court: Barbara Thompson; Colleen McIntyre Osborne; City Commissioners: Lisa Deeley and Omar Sabir.

The 22nd Ward Independent Democrats PAC was created as a fund-raising arm of the caucus.

The Caucus was originally formed in 2019 to discuss how to deal with the way the Ward Leader and 8th District Councilperson Cindy Bass conducted meetings. She then announced that caucus members would not be recognized in meetings or receive election materials. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, she excluded Caucus members entirely for two years. A court suit decided just days before the Ward Leader elections in June 2022, ruled the committee people must be admitted to the ward meetings, recognized, and receive any materials accorded to other committee people. 

Caucus members, who represented the highest registration and turnout divisions in the Ward, work(ed) on voter registration, turnout and endorsements, which have been welcomed by candidates. Turnout surged in their divisions.

For more information about the Caucus, email 22ndwardopencaucus@gmail.com.

Michael Kleiner

Mt. Airy, 22nd Ward committeeperson