Rumor Has It: Madam Mayor

Politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum.  The next mayoral race in Philadelphia will be an open race; Mayor Nutter can't run again.  Many conversations among local politicos will touch on who the most likely candidates will be.  Since Philadelphia has never had a female mayor there is speculation on possible female candidates.

Lately I've heard a few new names mentioned.

Earlier this month the Philadelphia Daily News had a brief interview with Renee Hughes Jones, ("From disasters to City Hall?" by Sean Collins Walsh 9/  /2013).  Here is how they described Jones:

Renée Cardwell Hughes is a lot of things: former Common Pleas judge, ex-wife of state Sen. Vincent Hughes, current chief executive officer of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross. And if some observers of local politics get their way, the 59-year-old will add another title in three years: mayor of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Magazine also put her on their list of potential female mayoral candidates.

Another name I've heard floating around is Terry Gillen.  She has been a force in Philadelphia for a number of years, including working on on the Navy Yard Master Plan, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.  For information on her work with the RDA, see Donald Groff's interview with her on Plan Philly in 2009.

I've met both women in passing.  Both are excellent public speakers, though with very different styles.  Both are bright and personable.  Take note, Philadelphia.