Rebecca Rhynhart

 Rebecca Rhynhart was the first woman elected as City Controller in 2017. Ms. Rhynhart began her career on Wall Street serving as managing director at Bear Stearns. She held several positions in city government before Controller, including budget director, city treasurer, and chief administrative officer. As City Controller, Ms. Rhynhart released several audits calling attention to the biggest issues facing Philadelphia. Her biggest issues are gun violence and quality of life issues like litter. Ms. Rhynhart has been endorsed by John Street.  

On Creating an Artist Bill of Rights: As mayor, I would make sure that the arts are prioritized in every neighborhood. Of course, we need a strong arts, vibrant economy downtown, and we need to make sure that our arts institutions downtown have the environment and the support that they need. But what I will do as mayor is focus on the neighborhoods because art starts close to home. Art starts in the school; art starts from where you can walk to every single day. we need to feel that and support that across our neighborhoods. And that's what I'll do as Mayor, making sure that there's arts in the schools, making sure that community organizations are well-funded and supported by the city and that technical assistance and support is available when needed. That’s what we need to do to truly lift up our city and to have arts be a part of that. 

On Creating Partnerships: As Mayor, I would bring together private companies, foundations and others to truly leverage the funds. I've worked with the Philadelphia Foundation since 2019 as City Controller on the issue of gun-violence, and I would bring the foundations and private sector together on this.

On Ensuring Support Beyond Center City: Day one and then this is all in my arts policy on my website, Rebeccaforphiladelphia.com. Day one, appoint a deputy mayor for the arts. Make sure there's stable funding and make sure it's integrated into all the operating departments of the city.

On Funding Equity:  As mayor, I will make sure that arts across our city, across neighborhoods are funded in a way that they can depend on the funding and not have to worry about it each year. I will have separate funding streams within my department of arts and culture for small neighborhood organizations, for the cultural fund and for larger arts organizations to address this in an equitable manner.

On Influencing Positive Outcomes: I've been on the Board of Mural Arts since 2016. I've seen the power of art with the Guild program, also the Color Me Back program that have really transformed people's lives and given them second chances.

On Ensuring Sustained Funding: Arts and Culture was also one of the hardest hit industries in the pandemic. Please describe how you would ensure sustained funding and elevation of the sector within the Mayor’s Office to bolster the important industry now and for the future.

On Historic Preservation: We have an amazing historical city. As mayor, I would promote historical preservation, by number one, incentivizing historical preservation. I would bring stakeholders together, experts in historical preservation to figure out the best ways to do that, but we have to make sure that as rebuilding and development occurs in our city that we don’t lose the historical context and fabric of all of our buildings. Also, as mayor I would establish a fund for low and moderate income homeowners that live in historical homes to help with the cost to keep their homes up to date, basic repairs for historical homes. Often, repairing a historical home is much more expensive and as a city we need to make sure that we’re helping maintain the beauty, the history of our city and that’s the way that I’ll lead forward as mayor. Thank you!

On Making a Cabinet Level Post: I absolutely would have a cabinet level official in my administration. I said I would have a deputy mayor. It’s extremely important to me. That person would have strong leadership skills, experience and knowledge and appreciation for the arts, and the ability to cut through a lot of bureaucracy to get things done in the city.

On Supporting 2026:  The year 2026 is going to be an amazing, amazing year for the city. On day one, when I’m mayor, I will be the number one cheerleader for our city. We first have to get our city safe and clean. But then, in addition to that I would pull together the arts leaders, the Kimmel Center, the orchestra and others, and ask: what can I do for you as the mayor? How can I make your job easier so that we thrive and have an amazing experience in 2026? Thank you!

On Parks, Rec Centers, and Libraries: As Mayor, I will fully fund our parks, recreation centers and libraries. This investment is a crucial component of my administration’s long-term strategies to reduce gun violence, increase opportunity in our neighborhoods and improve the quality of education. Philadelphia has a great system of amenities that serves our citizens. As Mayor, I will ensure that we hire a full complement of staff, ramp up the days and hours those amenities are open and ensure that they are safe places for kids to learn, play and create beyond the classroom. I will also expand opportunities for teenage seasonal workers so that all elementary-age kids have safe places to have fun in the summer.