Philadelphia City Council-at-large Endorsed Candidates

Justin DeBerardinis --  while young (37), Justin has substantial experience working for a member of city council (6 years) as well as substantial experience as Director of Programs and Partnerships at Bartram's Garden (6 years) where he has put sustainability, community engagement, and local jobs at the forefront of program values at this storied institution. He is deeply conversant on all topics addressed in the environmental questionnaire and has interesting ideas on how council could make progress on difficult issues. He is running a strong campaign, with significant fund raising, endorsements from numerous key individuals and organizations, and strong name recognition as the son of a former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor.

Website: http://www.justinforphilly.com/about/

Helen Gym -- has been a consistent advocate for the environment and the environmental health of Philadelphia school children since her election to City Council in 2015,. Securing lead-free drinking water in every one of the buildings in Philadelphia School District is among her victories during her first term. She is one of only two City Councilor so far to come out in opposition to the proposed bill authorizing the construction of a liquid natural gas plant at Philadelphia Gas Work's South Passyunk facility. Website: Helen Gym for City Council

Adrian Rivera-Reyes -- is a young, openly-gay, Latino PhD cancer researcher who has made Green New Deal, climate change and poverty the primary issues in his campaign. He has been speaking out against the PGW LNG plant and says his first priority in council will be building a coalition of council members who will agree to stop new fossil fuel projects. He says that at candidate forums he is the one bringing up climate change. We like him for his positions expressed on the questionnaire and in person, the science background he brings to environmental issues, and for the diverse communities he would help represent. He drew the #1 ballot position in a field of 29, an advantage making his candidacy less of a long shot for someone just entering politics. Website: www.rivera2019.com

Eryn Santamoor -- her career in the public sector stands out and represents what we should all expect from our local leaders. She has spent it working to push the status quo in cities, developing new and exciting programs such as Philly311 - that lead to better outcomes for people and families and transform how government functions. Eryn’s commitment to serving as an environmental advocate in City Council is clearly shown in her plan to build a Green and Sustainable Philadelphia. Website: www.erynforcouncil.com

Philadelphia District 3 Endorsed Candidate

Jamie Gauthier - As gentrification is a big issue in the district, she supports more equitable economic development. She supports ending councilmanic prerogative, empowering organized neighborhood groups to weigh in on land use and development, and implementation of “Philadelphia 2035” - in other words, actual planning instead of our current process of making plans and throwing them out the window on a council person’s whims (my words). She supports ending the 10-year tax abatement, but also increasing resources available for low-income home maintenance and repairs. She supports creating a “Green New Deal” for Philadelphia, and 100% renewable energy [electricity] by 2035 (2030 on her website).

Bucks County - Court of Common Pleas

Jordan Yeager - Jordan Yeager grew up along the canal in Bucks County, swimming in the Delaware. From his early days as a lawyer in the early 1990’s, Jordan has worked for the protection of the people, including as an employment and civil rights litigator.  In 2008, Jordan entered the fray against fracking when Nockamixon Township hired him as their Solicitor, and he successfully defended the Township’s right to apply its zoning ordinances to keep fracking companies from setting up shop. When the PA General Assembly then enacted Act 13 of 2012 to take away local zoning authority over fracking, Jordan successfully crafted and argued the constitutional challenge to Act 13, winning the landmark Robinson Twp case in the PA Supreme Court.  His groundbreaking advocacy is credited with giving life, for the first time, to the Pennsylvania Constitution’s Environmental Rights Amendment, reshaping environmental law in Pennsylvania.  As in the Act 13 litigation, Jordan regularly represents the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, other grassroots environmental advocacy organizations, and local governments.  He has appeared in 23 different county courts around the state, taking on CAFO, landfill, and fossil fuel infrastructure projects.  He writes and lectures widely on constitutional and environmental rights, and his legal work has been featured in two books, The Green Amendment, and Amity and Prosperity, which won the Pulitzer for General Nonfiction.