Tough Election Night For Philadelphia Commissioner Tartaglione
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Among the hardest-fought races of the 2011 Democratic primary in Philadelphia have been the races for city commissioners -- the elected officers who are responsible for running the elections.
Marge Tartaglione was trying for her tenth term in office despite having been roundly criticized for entering the "DROP" pension program (see related story). She and fellow commissioner Anthony Clark were being challenged by reform candidates Stephanie Singer and Blair Talmadge, and others.
But with more than 95 percent of the voting precincts counted, Singer was leading the pack, Clark was coming in second, and Tartaglione a very close third.
So, with about a thousand votes separating Clark and Tartaglione, Clark was apparently headed to serving alongside Singer, the newcomer, who said during her campaign that she was "running for one reason –- to give the Commission back to the people."
In the Republican race for city commissioner, incumbent Joseph Duda was leading top challenger Al Schmidt by a mere 37 votes, with 96 percent of precincts reporting.
In Philadelphia, the majority party (Democratic) holds two seats on the Board of Commissioners, and the minority party (Republican) holds one.
Reported by Ed Fischer.
