Republicans have selected Drew Murray and Jim Hasher as their candidates in the Nov. 8 special elections for two at-large City Council seats.
Murray, a ward leader and community activist from Center City, will face Jimmy Harrity, a longtime Democratic Party staffer, and Libertarian Poetica Bey.
Hasher will face Sharon Vaughn, a Democratic ward leader and chief of staff for former Councilman Derek Green, and Libertarian Marc Jurchak.
The seats are open following the resignations of Green and Allan Domb.
A Republican ward leader select committee interviewed candidates at Cannstatter’s and recommended Murray and Hasher, then ward leaders gathered at the United Republican Club to ratify that recommendation.
Hasher is a St. Martha and Archbishop Ryan graduate who lives in Torresdale. He’s married with five sons and a longtime real estate broker, with an office in Mayfair. He owns Jimmy’s Timeout Sports Pub and is president and athletic director at Torresdale Boys Club. He’s former Republican leader of the 65th Ward and ran for Congress against Rep. Bob Borski in 1994.
Hasher believes Council needs a small businessman. He is concerned about the lack of respect for life on city streets and worries about neighborhoods dealing with quality-of-life issues such as the recent ransacking of the Wawa at Tyson Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard.
Meanwhile, Republicans have chosen James Whitehead to run in the special election in the 7th Councilmanic District, which is centered in Kensington. The other candidates are Democrat Quetcy Lozada and Libertarian Randall Justus. The seat is vacant following the resignation of Maria Quinones Sanchez, who is running for mayor. ••
