Featured urbanist candidates we are recommending for Committeeperson in 2026. They are our friends and neighbors all seeking a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable Philadelphia. See our full list of recommended candidates here
- Are you running for Committeeperson and want to be considered for this list? Fill out our survey here
Dustin Dove (Ward 15, Division 13)
I’m a dad and lawyer living in Fairmount. I’m the Secretary of the 15th Ward and worked to open the ward four years ago. Since then, we’ve gone through twice yearly endorsement and get-out-the-vote efforts to elect the best Democrats possible and get more of our neighbors involved in the process. I’m also President of the Fairmount Civic Association, where I work, along with my neighbors, to create a better neighborhood for everyone. I will work in the Ward and at the FCA to improve the amount and quality of our mobility options and will work to create more homes for current and new neighbors, both in my neighborhood and around the city. This means advocating for transit, biking, and walking so that everyone, of any age and mobility, can get around our city. This also means ensuring that zoning decisions in my neighborhood are made to ensure that we are expanding opportunities for people to live in the best neighborhood in the city.
Octavius Price (Ward 22, Division 09)
I’ve been a 5th square member since 2022, I am on the traffic calming committee of my neighborhood RCO, I believe that cities belong to people not cars. I believe in democracy and opening all the wards in Philadelphia and making this city truly a place for all.
Brian Elmore (Ward 15, Division 09)
I have lived in Philadelphia since 2021 and deeply love the city. I see a city built for people, and policy makers have let it become overrun with cars and all the ills that they bring. I want more housing for everyone, particularly poor and working-class folks. I want more bike infrastructure and a transit system that works for all of us.
Gerard Greco (Ward 26, Division 16)
I’m a hands-on person who believes the best way to improve Philadelphia is to show up and do the work. I’ve spent years running a small business, serving on nonprofit boards, and now working in the shipyard as an apprentice, so I understand the city from both a community and working-class perspective. To me, accessibility, sustainability, and equity aren’t just buzzwords — they mean safe jobs, real career opportunities, clean neighborhoods, and growth that benefits everyone. I’ll work to advance that vision by listening to residents, bringing people together, and pushing for practical solutions that make everyday life better across the city.
Eleanor Safer (Ward 26, Division 03)
Step one for me is to assist in opening up my ward so that committee people are able to actually represent the folks in their area. Right now, committee members in closed wards cannot vote to represent their district. Creating a more transparent process where the ward leaders have to listen to the community members they represent is my top priority. I also think it's important to help organize the community. Many neighbors might not be aware of upcoming elections, down ballot initiatives, etc and I will make sure my community members are well informed!
Elliot Konstant (Ward 26, Division 03)
I will put pressure on the Philadelphia Democratic party to endorse and fund progressive candidates for Federal and state offices. Particularly those that prioritize disability access rights, green energy initiatives, and funding affordable transit and housing initiatives.
Diana Lind (Ward 15, Division 19)
I am a longtime urbanist, first-time candidate. I ran Next City for 6+ years and have spent most of my career writing about urban policy issues, including my book about the problems with / solutions to single-family housing, Brave New Home, and my current Substack, The New Urban Order. I have also served on the boards/advisory boards of a variety of local advocacy groups ranging from Washington Square West Civic Association (when I lived over there), The Philadelphia Citizen, and now Friends of the Rail Park. I have long been a leading voice in favor of dismantling urban highways, including my 2011 TEDXPhilly talk on I-95. In addition to my writing, I advocate for asset building strategies that can help close racial and generational wealth gaps. I've lived in Fairmount for more than a decade and have supported our local public school, Bache-Martin, including its first-in-the-city school street. (Please feel free to edit this down if this is too long.)
Walter Bayer (Ward 21, Division 21)
As a former Peace Corps Volunteer, public school teacher, and now public health grant manager, I believe in building stronger, healthier, safer communities. Many policies that will lead to a more accessible, sustainable, equitable Philadelphia for all are backed by data, but are not always well understood. As committeeperson, I look forward to communicating to my neighbors how these policies could help them. For example, protected bike lanes don't just help bikers - they help drivers by reducing the number of cars on the road. Walkable, denser communities aren't just better for affordable housing, they also bring in more customers to your small business. Wider support for urbanism can be achieved through the kinds of face-to-face conversations committeepeople have with their neighbors everyday.
Alexandria Murphy (Ward 25, Division 08)
Hi! I'm A. Mercedes Murphy, member of Reclaim Philadelphia Riverwards and United Neighbors of Port Richmond. I strongly believe that traffic safety improvements like concrete barriers in bike lanes and/or car-protected bike lanes, daylighting, speed bumpbs, and traffic calming measures that force cars to slow down are essential to a safer neighborhood and strongly desired by voters in my neighborhood. As a committee person in the 25th ward, I will work w other committee members to endorse candidates that support these improvements in our ward that will benefit all people in Port Richmond/Kensington
Cameron Pursel (Ward 05, Division 25)
As committeeperson, I will work to endorse ward leadership and candidates that support our city building more housing, saving lives with international transportation best practices like protected bike lanes, road diets, and intersection daylighting, and advocate for a break from the machine politics that have governed our city and elected single issue candidates that abhor road safety improvements. We need better, safer options for ALL Philadelphians to get around, and the good news is we already know the solutions that work. No more pilot projects, no more years of testing things that work in every other city in the world.
Deborah Dowlin (Ward 21, Division 19)
I have always believed in an accessible Philadelphia for all. I rode SEPTA to school as a kid from 5th--12th. I took it as a young teacher too in Philly schools. I live in Roxborough now because I like that I can walk to Acme, restaurants on Main Street, and have good playgrounds I can walk to for my son. The best thing about Philly is its neighborhoods and walkability. My dad John Dowlin was one of the founders of the Bicycle Coalition in the early 70s. Transit access and sustainability is in my blood. Some of my earliest memories are on the back of the bike going to daycare at Friends Center. I care deeply about Vision Zero and ensuring that everyone can arrive safely back at home from their day.
Sean Murphy (Ward 39, Division 42)
I live in South Philly and work at Temple University as a staff program coordinator in the Political Science Department. I am also a Master in Public Policy student and think a lot about making my neighborhood and city a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable place to live and work. As part of that work, I want to serve my neighborhood as a Democratic Committeeperson to help support candidates who support those values and ensure my neighbors understand those issues when they vote or get involved. Additionally, in my day job I work with undergraduates and deeply enjoy opening their eyes to public policy and ways to get involved with public service at various levels in Philadelphia. I have followed 5th Square's work and would be honored to receive your endorsement.
Miles Owen (Ward 29, Division 12)
I am a former firefighter/paramedic and current city planner who has worked for years to help make our communities and infrastructure more environmentally sustainable and resilient to the impacts of climate change. This will be my second term as committee person and it is a role I both take seriously and find a lot of joy in. As a longtime Fifth Square member and passionately involved neighborhood resident, all of my work is focused on making the Brewerytown neighborhood and city as a whole more vibrant, livable, and equitable.
Jack Ozment (Ward 36, Division 41)
My name is Jack Ozment, I am 35 years old. I am a musician and software dev. I have lived in Philadelphia for 15 years, and have lived in South Philadelphia for 10 years. I want Philadelphia to be an inclusive, affordable, safe place for anyone to live how they want to. That means advocating for more affordable housing, making our streets safer, increasing public transit access, and keeping ICE out of our neighborhoods. Diversity, affordability, and accessibility are a huge part of what makes Philadelphia special, and I want to make sure the people in my division have a voice in making our city a better place.
Robert Jackel (Ward 60, Division 08)
I serve on the Walnut Hill zoning committee where I frequently advocate for variants to increase density and housing stock. I have served on the SEPTA CAC and have advocated for policies to make transit more safe and reliable.
I am a full-time public interest immigration lawyer and deeply believe that everyone who wants to deserves to live in this country. I believe that building housing, especially in our cities, is key both to ensuring that immigrants have a good place to live and that current residents see this city and country as a welcoming place that can absorb growth without displacing them.
Bartosz Jaskulski (Ward 25, Division 03)
My name is Bartosz Jaskulski and I'm a Polish-American citizen residing in Port Richmond. Although I only moved into the neighborhood just two years ago, I've been traveling to Port Richmond my whole life and have seen where the needs of the neighborhood are. I've been close to the community since I was a kid, and have now been making efforts on getting to know the neighbors around me and learning for their experiences what they love about Port Richmond and what they want to see improved.
If I win the seat for Committeeperson in my Division, I would work with the Ward and my constituents on ways of relaying our hyper-local issues and bringing them to light to the city and to Mark Squilla, our district's councilmember, to help work towards resolution of issues that have been persistent in Port Richmond for many years.
Janneken Smucker (Ward 18, Division 05)
I have served as a committee person in the mighty 18th Ward since 2022, one of a handful of “open wards” in which individual committee persons vote directly on endorsements of candidates and issues, rather than taking our orders from ward leaders or the Democratic City Committee. This has enabled me to play a key role in supporting candidates who likewise support urbanist issues, and also results in elected officials paying more attention to my views as they know my opinion on their job performance matters in our local GOTV strategies. In addition to serving as a CP, I am an avid cyclist and activist for street safety initiatives. I also serve on the Fishtown Neighbors Association Zoning Committee, where I support increased housing and commercial amenities, as well as initiatives such as Neighborhood Bikeways and the easing of outdoor dining restrictions. I am the mother of a 15 year old who has attended Philadelphia public schools since kindergarten and a professor of history.
K. Lyn Kirshenbaum (Ward 05, Division 08)
In my studies, I received a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Development. Since then, I have been a Housing and Community Development Specialist for the state and federal government. In those roles I championed accessible and visitable housing and streets, served as a leader in sustainability working with Mayors in our 6-state region, and created solutions for equitable employment, transportation and housing. As a current Committeeperson, I have gathered many volunteers to make sure everyone in the division is registered to vote, helped voters correct errors in mail- in ballots as reported by the Board of Elections, and increased voter turnout.
Ashlei Tracy (Ward 05, Division 33)
I believe a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia requires treating those goals as connected. The people in a city must be able to afford to live in it, safely move through it using ANY forms of transportation (including your own feet!), and easily access green space and public services. Decisions should not be made without the people who will live with the consequences. My approach is grounded in the belief that good policy should not only be ambitious, but responsive to what Philadelphians (including future generations) actually need.
John Mahlman (Ward 57, Division 04)
Born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia, I went to college in Brooklyn before returning home after nearly a decade away. I have called Pennypack Park home since 2012 and consider myself unapologetically Philadelphian. I choose to live here despite working remotely, knowing I could save money by moving to the suburbs, because I genuinely love this city and believe deeply in its potential. Philadelphia has everything it needs to thrive, and I am committed to doing my part to help it get there.
I am a strong advocate for expanded and equitable public transit across Philadelphia, with a particular focus on underserved communities in the far Northeast. I have actively engaged in the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway planning process and the Route for Change public meetings, providing substantive feedback to help shape a transit vision that serves all residents. I believe that affordable, reliable public transportation is foundational to a more accessible and equitable city, and I am committed to championing infrastructure investments that connect every neighborhood in Philadelphia.
I would also push for substantial investment in public parks like Pennypack Park, which, like many across the city, are severely underfunded and lacking basic amenities such as adequate trash receptacles, restrooms, and other basic comforts that residents in surrounding suburbs take for granted.
Gini George (Ward 58, Division 03)
Hey.. My name is Gini George.. I’m a committee person in the Greater NE. My life’s ambition and goal is to get the most progressive candidates elected into office. I work with different organizations to advance the vision for a more accessible, sustainable and equitable Philadelphia for its residents.
Sultan Smalley (Ward 23, Division 13)
My name is Sultan and I am a lifelong Philadelphian and a student at the Community College of Philadelphia. I’m also a member of the Sunrise Movement with a passion for protecting our environment and creating a better future for working class people in our city. When elected i will push my the 23rd ward to endorse leaders who prioritize creating safer and cleaner streets. We can’t just talk about vision zero, we have to put in place the necessary infrastructure that will turn zero vehicular deaths into a reality.
Sam Rosen (Ward 21, Division 17)
I'm an engineer, activist, backpacker, maker, and board game enthusiast. I care deeply about ensuring our government works for everyone, and protects common goods such as the environment and public services, even when there isn't an immediate profit to be made in doing so. I firmly believe that it is the governments job to intervene where the market fails to deliver the best outcome for the largest number of people. I believe that science should take precedent over zeitgeist when deciding public policy.
I am broadly in favor of more and denser housing in my neighborhood and in general, especially if it is mixed income and mixed use. I am happy to accommodate good-faith discussions about specifics, but with the ultimate goal of making more and denser housing easier to build while ensuring it fits into the neighborhood. I use my bicycle frequently for running errands and leisure, and am acutely aware of various bike infrastructure problems, especially in my area. I am very in favor of more and safer bicycle infrastructure such as separated and parking protected lanes, and of maintaining what we have: there is no reason why bike lanes should be left filled with snow and leaves while roadways are cleared. I am a big believer in using bikes as a practical vehicle, and not just for recreation. I am a big advocate for more and better public transit, it is in fact the primary reason why I joined 5th Square in the first place. I use it nearly every time I travel further into Philadelphia, and while I cannot comment from experience on every route, I can certainly say that the lack of funding has definitely been felt. SEPTA has such a wide range of issues, and it does seem like most of them could be solved by sustainable funding. More frequent buses and weekend rail service, trolley modernization, and (hopefully, eventually!) the implementation of metro-style regional rail would be welcome changes that could take cars off the road and enable denser housing at lower cost. I am legitimately tired of hearing how public transit is too expensive while we waste vast amounts of money expanding an already overbuilt road network that we cannot maintain.
As for what I would do to implement these changes...I am under no illusion that I will have the power to directly write policy as a committeeperson. That being said, I will continue to advocate for these causes within my community, and vote to endorse candidates who will influence policy in these directions.
Lauren Rinaldi (Ward 18, Division 06)
I’m an artist, 18th Ward Committee Person and Ward Leader, and currently serve as Arts & Culture Liaison for Councilmember Rue Landau. My work focuses on community organizing and how public space, culture, and civic systems shape everyday life in Philadelphia.
I believe a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable city means walkable neighborhoods, reliable transit, safe streets, and housing people can afford, but also a democracy where more people feel informed, included, and empowered to participate. I’ve helped increase voter turnout locally by meeting neighbors where they are and making civic engagement more accessible and community-driven.
I remain committed to advancing policies that make Philadelphia easier to live in, move through, and meaningfully participate in for everyone.
Natalie Gulati (Ward 05, Division 08)
Since moving to the neighborhood, Natalie has been a dedicated volunteer working with Lyn and Neil. She loves spending her weekends doing voter registration activities and going door-to-door to remind voters of key deadlines and ensure an election day plan. On election day, you can see her at the polls as well as doing a final door-to-door push. She knows that this is the job, and she will be ready from day one. Natalie is excited to further enhance the division operations with the use of technology and data, widening voter engagement, and deepening partnerships with neighboring divisions. Natalie moved to the neighborhood in 2024 with her husband and McCall kindergartener. She is active in the community, volunteering with other local organizations and is passionate about ensuring our voice is represented in City Hall, Harrisburg and DC. Pro public schools, pro green spaces, pro supporting small businesses, pro bike lanes and traffic control, pro protecting our historic sites, pro protecting urban arts
Thomas J Hurst (Ward 21, Division 01)
I've been pushing for more open wards since 2014. As a committee member, I hope to advocate for more TOD and and safer streets.
Micah Mahjoubian (Ward 05, Division 14)
I have spent most of my adult life working in and around Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, helping translate policy into practical improvements in people’s daily lives. As Chief of Staff to Senator Sharif Street, I work on issues that shape how our city grows, how people move around, and whether opportunity is truly accessible. That work has strengthened my belief that safer streets, reliable transit, and thoughtful land use are essential to Philadelphia’s future.
I have lived in Center City for 27 years, and for most of that time I did not own a car. I chose to build my life and raise my family in a dense, vibrant, walkable neighborhood because of the opportunities and quality of life that kind of urban environment can provide. Through travel around the world, I have also seen firsthand how cities that prioritize walkability, transit, and mixed-use development create healthier, more equitable communities. Those experiences shape how I think about Philadelphia’s potential.
My commitment to equitable urban development is also reflected in my work. I partnered with Mark Segal and others to help develop the John C. Anderson Apartments, bringing deeply affordable homes to LGBTQ elders who might otherwise have been priced out of the Gayborhood. During the Street Administration, I worked on initiatives like the installation of rainbow street signs to strengthen community identity and signal that LGBTQ residents belong in the public life of our city. In the Senate office, I have sought to bring more urbanist expertise into our work, including hiring Jawad Pullin, a member of 5th Square’s board, to help inform our policy approach.
We are also advancing legislative solutions to expand housing opportunity, including introducing a single-stair reform bill that represents an important step toward enabling more affordable and flexible housing development across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
At the same time, I believe that achieving an equitable urbanist vision requires deeper engagement with working-class communities and communities of color who often rely on cars to manage complex daily realities. For many residents, transportation and land-use debates can feel disconnected from their lived experience. Building a more accessible and sustainable city must go hand-in-hand with economic fairness and a genuine understanding of how people actually navigate their daily lives.
As Committee Person, I will work to build consensus around practical solutions that make Philadelphia safer, more accessible, and more equitable. I believe we can pursue a strong urbanist vision while remaining grounded in the needs and voices of all residents.
Raymond Scheinfeld (Ward 05, Division 35)
Current Democratic committee person re-running for office. Environmental geologist with deep understanding of environmental issues in the Delaware Valley having investigated and remediated 100's of sites with environmental problems. Long time sustainability advocate and implemented many sustainability programs at the City of Philadelphia's airports.
Tariem Burroughs (Ward 60, Division 03)
I have lived in this district for more than 15 years. I’ve been working on many community initiatives throughout my career, especially initiatives related to accessibility, sustainability and transportation. I currently work in the field of public health and community relations. I’m a big advocate of education and community wellness.
Maxwell Meshaka (Ward 05, Division 13)
I genuinely hate personal vehicles in cities and I moved to Philly specifically so I wouldn't have to drive. I will do all in my power to reduce car traffic, provide alternatives, and encourage mixed use development.
Edward Melendez (Ward 21, Division 20)
I moved to Philadelphia two years ago and love living in this compact corridor of the US, getting around by SEPTA, and being a part of the community. I am also a co-founder of Health Tech PHL, convening a wide variety of stakeholders in the Philadelphia healthcare ecosystem.
My awakening came in 2001, when I was living in New Orleans and opposed the destruction of long time public housing to make way for a big box retailer. That year, I co-founded the Urban Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that works with community and collaborating to strengthen urban environments and economies through equity initiatives, policies, and programs. They're still in business today with a great leadership team.
I'm a believer that cities don't have to settle for car centric and unaffordable housing, and that mixed-use that respects the community it serves can be the norm, not the exception.
I have an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Acton School of Business, and I am a fellow of the Loyola New Orleans Institute of Politics.
I live in Roxborough with my family.
Beckett Woodworth (Ward 39, Division 45)
I’ve proudly served as a Democratic Committeeperson for the past four years. I attended La Salle University and Temple University Beasley School of Law, and I now work in renewable energy, helping companies, cities, towns, and nonprofits make the clean energy transition. I’ve also pushed the City to prioritize pedestrian safety, and as president of the board of the South Philly Food Co-op, I’ve worked to strengthen a more equitable, community-centered local economy. As Committeeperson, I’ll keep fighting for safer streets, more housing, and a Philadelphia that is accessible, sustainable, and fair for all residents.
Are you running for Committeeperson and want to be considered for this list? Fill out our survey here