U. alum, prof to seek seat on City Council

Penn professor and alumnus Sean Reilly will run for City Council next year, vying to become the youngest member of the legislative body.

Reilly, who is 34, plans to run as a Republican for one of City Council's seven at-large seats.

Reilly graduated from the Fels Institute of Government in 2001 and now teaches at Fels on an adjunct basis. He recently finished a three-year stint as state and political director for Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

"I was approached by a few friends and mentors and advisors to see if I was interested," Reilly said of his decision to run. "They thought, and I think, that I can bring a fresh and unique perspective to the needs and agenda of the Republicans in Philadelphia."

Reilly said he recognizes that as a Republican, he would be in the minority on City Council, but he still hopes to be able to press his agenda, which includes "less government, fiscal responsibility, sensible approaches to tax reform, education and neighborhood and economic revitalization."

At-large Council members represent the whole city rather than one particular district. The city's charter dictates that each party can only field up to five candidates for the seven seats. If more than five from any given party want to run, a primary election is held.

Currently, five of the at-large members are Democrats and two are Republicans. One of the Republicans is Thatcher Longstreth, an 82-year-old who rarely shows up at Council meetings and whose health is failing. Political insiders feel that Longstreth will not seek re-election next year.

The other Republican Councilman-at-large is Frank Rizzo Jr., who is contemplating a run for mayor next year. If he does run, he will have to step down from Council.

Reilly said he is operating under the assumption that he will be facing off against the two incumbent Republicans in the primary next spring.

"My campaign is assuming that they will run," he said. "They're both great gentlemen that have served the city well, but the good news for me is that five Republicans get through the primary. [I am concentrating on] being one of those five."

Reilly said he also has further political aspirations.

"While I hope to someday represent the people of this great city and this state in other areas, my focus and 100 percent of my efforts will go toward winning a City Council at-large seat," he said.

Two other Penn affiliates are also running for City Council next year, both on the Green Party ticket. Tom Hutt, who is in charge of off-campus facilities at the medical school, will run in the eighth district and John Hogan, who works at the Biddle Law Library, will run for an at-large seat.

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