Longtime City Official Says She's Ready To Run For Philadelphia Mayor
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The primary for Philadelphia mayor won't be held until May of 2015, but already the race for the Democratic nomination is gearing up, with the first formal announcement of a candidacy set for tomorrow.
Announcing her candidacy for mayor is Terry Gillen, who was a deputy commerce director under former mayor Ed Rendell and was head of the Redevelopment Authority under Mayor Nutter.
"So I have about 15 years of executive experience working for cities, and I also have been a community activist for 30 years," she told KYW Newsradio today.
Gillen's announcement is the first of several expected in the coming weeks by mayoral hopefuls. Others who might enter the fray include Pennsylvania state senator Anthony Williams, city controller Alan Butkovitz, and former city solicitor Kenneth Trujillo.
Gillen says she doesn't mind one bit getting out ahead of the pack.
"I quit my job. I'm living off my savings. And I'm not ambivalent, and I don't have to think about it any longer," she said today. "And if you want to be mayor, you have to be seriously in the race. And that's why I'm doing it now."
Neither is she concerned about her low name recognition relative to other potential candidates.
"I've worked for many candidates who've been at the back of the pack when the campaign started," she notes. "When Ed Rendell ran for governor, when Michael Nutter ran for mayor, they did not start out in first place and ended up winning."
Gillen's announcement comes at 11am Saturday at 23rd and St. Alban's Place, in South Philadelphia.