Philadelphia 2011 primary election endorsement roundup

The 3,500 Philadelphia voting machines being tested. Photo courtesy of KYW

Technically Philly is not endorsing any candidates for today’s primary election, but it just feels like our civic duty to remind you of this election.

To do so, here’s a roundup of some other relevant endorsements and perspectives worth giving a look before you hit the polling place today.

• Inquirer Editorial: Pa. Primary endorsements
• DN Editorial: The Philadelphia Daily News endorsements in the May 17 primary
• Ten Things You Need to Know Before Primary Day on Tuesday [Metropolis]
• An Annotated Guide to the May Primary [Metropolis] You can also read about the ‘bullet ballot’ here.
• As always the Committee of Seventy at Seventy.org or  1-866-OUR-VOTE begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-866-OUR-VOTE end_of_the_skype_highlightingis a great resource for elections.
• City Paper’s 2011 Ultimate Primary Poll! — A Poll Dadddy showing where some of its readers stand
• GPCC PennPAC Recommends Slate of Candidates for Council [Chamber of Commerce] — Recommends Council candidates and features video here.
• Three Council Candidates Who Will Fight Corporate Power: Cohen, Hornstein and Paulmier [Young Philly Politics]
• Philadelphia Voting Machines Pass Inspection, Even If All Ballot Names Don’t [CBS]

DreamIt alumni Yunno tapped by Toomey campaign

After being digitally outmaneuvered in 2008, the Republican Party is looking to up their online efforts for tomorrow’s midterm elections — and they’re relying on a Philly startup to do it.

Yunno, the DreamIt Ventures graduate that offers social engagement campaigns to brands, has been working with Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey to help augment the campaign’s online strategy.

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Republican governor candidate Tom Corbett stumps on tech at Bentley

Bentley MicroStation visualization expert Jerry Flynn (left) shows Attorney General Corbett photorealistic 3D renderings specially created in MicroStation for use with 3D glasses.

The man who polls say would be Pennsylvania’s next governor if the election were held today spoke last week on the importance of high technology companies in creating high-paying jobs.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett, whose double-digit lead in the polls over Democratic gubernatorial challenger Dan Onoranto is slipping – though Corbett still enjoys a 10 point cushion – was out stumping at the Exton headquarters of infrastructure software giant Bentley Systems Wednesday.

Some in the region’s technology community may remember Corbett for his subpoenaing Twitter in May to unveil a series of anonymous users who were criticizing his candidacy.

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Today’s primary involves online advertising ballot question

The day’s primary polls in Philadelphia are open and lively already, and the Web, it would seem, is on the ballot.

In what most analysts are, of course, suspecting will be a low turnout affair and media coverage has focused on contested Democratic primaries for district attorney and city controller, one of two citywide ballot questions just might have implications for the future of online advertising.

As city political oversight group the Committee of Seventy explains the second of two ballot questions today: “currently, the Home Rule Charter imposes specific advertising requirements with respect to certain legal notices of the city.”

A yes vote on the question would allow City Council to change the avenues through which newly incorporated businesses, city contracts and public hearings are publicized.

It just might help kick newspapers when they’re down.

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Democratic candidates for city controller voice support for paperless government

Democratic candidates for city controller from left to right: Incumbant Alan Butkovitz, John Braxton, Brett Mandel. Far right: Moderator Chris Satullo of WHYY

The Democratic candidates for city controller each voiced support for paperless government initiatives Thursday night at the third and final major debate being held for the elected city office.

The rare moment of agreement between incumbent Alan Butkovitz and challengers John Braxton and Brett Mandel followed a confrontational discussion of the city’s $2.6 billion budget shortfall, real estate tax abatement and wage and sales tax increases.

In a modest side room of the John Perzel Community Center, the candidates responded to a question posed by Technically Philly in front of more than 30 residents in the Mayfair neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia.

If elected city controller, would he support recommendations made by freshman councilmembers in October that would promote digital government initiatives that would cut back on paper consumption, bring forms online and potentially save the city millions of dollars?

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