South Philly Review

As November approaches, candidates are doing everything to keep things heated up as they make the final push toward Election Day.

In the race for state representative in the 182nd and 184th districts, it's the Democratic incumbents who are guarding their seats from newcomer Republicans. In the 182nd, Babette Josephs is running for re-election for the position she's held since 1984 -- and the one Center City lawyer Wally Zimolong is vying to win for himself.

Incumbent William Keller, too, is running against a newcomer, Anthony Biondo, for representative of the 184th.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 4.

182nd District

Democratic incumbent Babette Josephs, 68, is the longest serving woman legislator in the assembly and is chair of the State Government Committee, whose mission is to remove voting barriers and make it easier for people to get to the polls. A former lawyer and English teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, Josephs has held positions in more than a dozen committees.

With four Philadelphia police officers killed in the line of duty in the last year, how do you plan to curb gun violence?

"I am a champion for gun control. I have many bills that I've introduced having to do with keeping guns off of the streets and out of hands of people who shouldn't have them. I'm very encouraged by the recent Supreme Court decision which said people did have a Second Amendment right because now I think the gun lobby can't scare us with the slippery slope. I'm intending to work to limit the number of guns that a person can own."

How would you use your role as a state representative to help residents during this economic crisis?

"I would like to see all of the great neighborhood and cultural organizations be funded and working towards providing what they do so well as a livable South Philadelphia where people will stay. And I would follow the lead of the governor and bring green industries to the entire state to create new economic activity around reusable energy sources. I'm a big champion of public transportation. I want to see groups like Philly CarShare extended. I want a bike share program -- I'm working with the mayor on that. All of which would help people who are pinched in these hard times. That's my objective: To help regular, ordinary citizens like myself."

What other initiatives do you have that will improve quality of life?

"I was able to bring a lot of money to the park at 12th and Catharine streets, which has been in the making for three to four years. I was able to bring enough money to have it be a real park -- it's going to serve the people there. I support the libraries, I support Farm to City for good, nutritious local products and I am for Barack Obama and Joe Biden because Democrats in Washington need to be aware of the cities. They need to understand the cities' needs."

Republican Challenger Wally Zimolong, 31, was born, raised and educated in Philadelphia, and practices construction litigation and construction law. He is active in the Italian Market Merchants Association and sits on the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association Real Property Section.