PA Primary Day is May 16 - Let's March to the Poll!

Philly Women Rally


From: Beth E. Finn (beth.finn@phillywomenrally.com)
Date: Fri, May 12, 2017 at 7:45 AM
Subject: PA Primary Day is May 16 - Let's March to the Poll!
To: Fellow Marchers

Dear Friend,

Pennsylvania’s primary election is on Tuesday, May 16. This is an excellent opportunity for the participants in the Women’s Marches to turn their passion into action! 50,000 of you showed up in Philly, and countless others in cities across the globe. Now, we must again march, this time to the polls. Voting is the most powerful way to exercise our voices as citizens, and it’s vitally important that we prove our critics wrong by turning out in droves next week.

Over the next few days, we at Philly Women Rally will be sending a series of messages to help you learn about the offices and candidates on the ballot, make a plan to Vote, and get you to the polls. We hope you will take action to “March to the Polls” on Tuesday, May 16! If you have questions about anything related to voting, check out votespa.com, or feel free to reach out to me at any time at beth.finn@phillywomenrally.com.

To start, I’m forwarding this email I received from City Controller Candidate, Rebecca Rhynhart, because I think it speaks to our vision for our government and desire for qualified women in leadership. I hope you’ll consider voting for her on May 16 - she’s the most qualified candidate for City Controller and would be the city’s first-ever female controller. After meeting her several times, I asked her to tell me a little about why she’s running and what it would mean for the City of Philadelphia for her to be our next City Controller. I wanted to share her response with each of you.

See you Tuesday at the polls,
Beth E. Finn
Board Member, Philly Women Rally
Organizers of the Women’s March on Philadelphia

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rebecca Rhynhart (RRhynhart@RebeccaforPhiladelphia.com)
Date: Wed, May 10, 2017 at 9:55 AM
Subject: Following up
To: Beth E. Finn (beth.finn@phillywomenrally.com)

Beth,

I’ve been thinking a lot about momentum lately, and how it can have an impact on both individuals and society as a whole. Right now, I am in a dead heat with my opponent and three-term incumbent, Alan Butkovitz. I’m not part of the establishment. I’ve never run for office. But here I am, after the devastation of last November.

As you know, I am running to be your next (and first female) City Controller in the upcoming Democratic primary. The City Controller is the chief financial watchdog and auditor for the City and School District of Philadelphia. It is meant to be the independent voice ensuring the public’s tax payer money is being spent responsibly. The City Controller can exercise her independent voice by validating the efficient and effective use of taxpayer money through auditing every department annually and by rooting out fraud, waste and corruption across all of City Government. I believe as City Controller that I can identify millions of dollars that can be put towards schools and other needs of the communities. My 15 years of financial experience, including nine with the City of Philadelphia, makes me uniquely qualified to serve as your next City Controller.

When I participated in the Women’s March back in January, I was just starting my campaign for Philadelphia City Controller. I know you, too, were just starting your coalition of Philadelphians who cared about electing qualified women to office. But when I marched with the thousands upon thousands of concerned citizens, I realized that this fight -- for immigrants, for women, for members of the LGBTQ, for the poor and disenfranchised -- cannot be lost. We will not lose. We will persevere.

We’ve been calling this wave of momentum, this drive for better leaders, “the resistance.” Through a dogged grassroots effort by my small but dedicated team, I am in a really promising, but precarious position to help move our resistance forward. I’ve been endorsed by several key players, including Governor Rendell, The Philadelphia Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer. I am so close. But if the march in January doesn’t translate to a march to the polls on May 16, then where will we be?

I know I can win this and bring positive change to Philadelphia. But the race is going to be close, and I need your support.

I hope I can count on your vote.

Best Regards,
Rebecca