The Philadelphia Board of Ethics recently released campaign finance reports submitted by City Council hopefuls, and one of the three openly gay candidates is leading the pack of Democratic challengers.
According to reports submitted last month that tracked fundraising through 2010, Sherrie Cohen, who is seeking a Council-at-Large seat, had $41,950 on hand.
Republican at-Large candidate John Giordano reported $100,180 in funds, putting him at the top of the list of challengers, followed by Cohen.
Out Democratic at-Large hopeful Chris Hayes recorded $136.59 at the end of 2010, and openly gay Republican Lou Lanni, who’s looking to unseat First District Councilman Frank DiCicco, reported $3,385.
Democratic Councilman-at-Large Bill Green topped all of the council candidates with $197,000.
Cohen noted that her campaign actually raised over $48,000 but some of the funding went to expenses.
“Fundraising’s been going great,” she said. “We have a lot of support in the LGBT community and throughout the city.”
Cohen, daughter of late Councilman David Cohen, is an attorney and longtime LGBT and civil-rights activist. She is vying for one of the five Democratic at-Large seats, with at least nine other Democrats also in the ring, including five incumbents.
In the next few months, she will be looking for supporters to host fundraising parties and to phone bank for donations, and planning an LGBT fundraiser for April.
In advance of the ballot petition drive, Cohen will host a “petition party” from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St., to solicit volunteers to gather signatures to secure her name on the ballot.
From Feb. 15-March 8, Council hopefuls must collect 1,000 signatures from city residents to secure a ballot spot.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].