Two Candidates File Nomination Petitions for the 8th District

With the deadline to submit for the City Council General Election passing Monday, two candidates filed to run for the 8th District.

Independent Jim Foster and Green Party candidate both successfully submitted petitions exceeding the mandatory 750 signatures, even though both candidates decided to join the race with less than 10 days before the deadline.

The two will face off in November against Democratic candidate Cindy Bass, who over a sea of challengers. No Republican has sought the seat being vacated by Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller.

According to the office of the Philadelphia Board of Elections, Rudnick submitted a petition with 967 signatures, and Foster’s petition contained 875 signatures.

Rudnick said Monday night that he submitted the petition after removing an additional 150 signatures that were either illegible, in the wrong district or otherwise might be ineligible.

“I cleaned up my act before I handed them in. Some of those petitions were signed in the rain, so we dried them off and removed signatures we felt were contestable,” Rudnick said. “Even if I’m wrong and 217 are still defective, I still have the 750 minimum.”

Foster, publisher of Germantown Newspapers, decided to run as an independent candidate less than a week before the Aug. 1 deadline. Foster did not respond to requests for comment.

Check back with Chestnut Hill Patch for more on thee candidates during the time leading up to the General Election.