The manager of an iconic Philadelphia landmark will step down from his longheld position to make a run for public office.
Paul Steinke, general manager of the Reading Terminal Market, announced Monday he is resigning from RTM to make a run for Philadelphia City Council.
If elected, Steinke would be the first openly gay City Council member.
“I think to be elected as the first openly gay Councilmember would be a great honor,” he said. “I have made LGBT advocacy a priority throughout my entire life. I am on the board of directors at William Way and the steering committee at Human Rights Campaign. Being gay is a large part of my identity — I have been in a 19-year relationship. I have always taken action in advancing LGBT equality.”
Effective Dec. 31, Steinke’s resignation will give him time to focus on his campaign throughout the month of January, he said.
“I have always had an interest in public service and running for office. I thought this cycle was the perfect opportunity.”
He will run for one of the seven at-large Council seats in the 2015 election.
“This will truly be a bittersweet transition,” Steinke said. “Reading Terminal Market has been a passion of mine for a long time, so to walk away for the last time as GM will be really tough. But I believe that I am leaving the Market in a strong position, and I want to see how I can apply my experience to help improve my hometown and the city that I love.”
Steinke’s major accomplishments at RTM include: leading the effort to get the Market open regularly on Sundays in 2006; overseeing a $4-million renovation project, which saw the additions of several new and renovated merchants; bringing back the highly popular Party for the Market gala fundraiser and supporting programming for nutrition education for Philadelphia school children.
Steinke was born and raised in Philadelphia, and said getting to know the city and improving it is a passion of his.
“I have spent the last 20 years in three separate positions,” he said. In addition to GM at RTM, his résumé boasts stints as the first executive director of the University City District and the director of finance and administration for the Center City District for seven years. “That has given me exposure to how the city runs, and the problems and challenges of small business.”
In his current position, Steinke manages about 80 small businesses on a daily basis. He said he has seen how city government can sometimes be impeditive to the success of businesses.
“I would like to see the city be more of a partner with these businesses,” he said. “Only through business can we grow the tax base, which is what we rely on to provide essential city services like parks and police and fire. Only through business do we create job opportunities for our citizens.”
Steinke pointed out that the city has the highest poverty rate out of the 10 largest cities in America and a dismally high jobless rate.
“That is why I am making economic development, jobs and opportunities, helping small businesses start and develop and reducing city poverty and homelessness some of my top priorities,” he said. “I look at City Council and city government as it stands today and think, We can do better. We can solve the city’s problems in a better way. I think I have some unique strengths and experience to be part of making this city a better place and solve its problems.”