Republic incumbent Gov. Tom Corbett, former Pa. attorney general and a former federal prosecutor, is running for his second term. Here are his stances on some political issues:
Corbett says he seeks to cut “wasteful spending” to “find more state dollars to invest in education.” In 2014-15 the state is reportedly giving Philadelphia schools $1.3 billion, out of a $10 billion state education budget.
Corbett supports medical use of marijuana extracts and opposes decriminalizing marijuana possession or legalizing marijuana sale.
Corbett opposes universal background checks, an “assault weapons” ban and the rights of municipalities to create their own gun control laws.
Democratic challenger Tom Wolf, of York, Pa., was Revenue Secretary under former Gov. Ed Rendell, and founded a company, Wolf Furniture. Here’s where he stands on some political issues:
Schools
Wolf advocates “a 5 percent severance [fracking/gas extraction] tax, charter school reform, instituting a fair funding formula, and closing unfair tax loopholes” to fund schools.\
Marijuana
Wolf is in favor of decriminalizing possession of under an ounce of marijuana, which has already taken place in Philadelphia. Before legalizing marijuana for sale, Wolf says further studies are needed of states that legalized marijuana.
Guns
Wolf advocates for universal background checks for gun owners and banning “assault weapons.”
What else you’ll see on the ballot
There are three ballot questions in Philadelphia.
Question 1 asks whether the city charter should be amended to establish the Office of Sustainability, which would focus on environmentally improvements to city infrastructure.
Question 2 asks whether the city charter should be amended to transfer supervision of Philadelphia prisons from the Department of Public Welfare to a new Department of Prisons.
Question 3 asks if the city should borrow $137,295,000 to go towards streets and sanitation, transit, municipal buildings, parks, recreation and museums, and economic and community development.
Other elections of note:
U.S. Congressman Bob Brady (D-1st) is facing challenger Meg Rath (R)
U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-2nd) is facing challenger Armond James (R)
State Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-170th) is running for 13th Congressional seat (incumbent Alyson Schwartz is not running) against Dee Adcock (R).
State Sen. Tina Tartaglione (D-2nd) is being challenged by John Jenkins (R).
State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D-8th) is running unopposed.
In the 4th State Senate district, Art Haywood (D), Ine Reyes (I) and Robin Gilchrist (R) are running for the seat from which Leanna Washington resigned last week after pleading guilty to abuse of office charges.