Democratic ward leaders pick State Rep. O'Brien's chief of staff to succeed him
Despite pushback from Democratic committee people, Mary Isaacson, the chief of staff to Democratic State Rep. Michael O’Brien, on Monday was chosen to replace him on the November ballot, after he reportedly quit the 175th District race last week.
Four of the district’s five Democratic ward leaders — Michael Boyle, the Fifth Ward leader who had nominated Isaacson; Theresa Alicea, 18th Ward; Peg Rzepski, 31st; and Thomas Johnson, 25th — voted for Isaacson, said Second Ward Leader Nikil Saval.
O’Brien filed paperwork to have his name withdrawn from the ballot Wednesday, citing health issues, according to City and State Pa., and several of the district’s Democratic committee people criticized the swiftness of the process.
They urged the ward leaders to postpone the meeting a week and allow more candidates to be considered, said Jon Geeting, committee person in the 18th Ward, and Neil Makhija, a Fifth Ward committee person.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/175th-district-ward-leaders-rep-obrien-isaacson-successor-november-20180723.html
