PHILADELPHIA – City Council welcomed four new members to Council on Monday as the newcomers, elected in special elections this month to fill vacancies, were all sworn in before family and friends in Council Chambers at City Hall.
The four new members of Council sworn in today are:
- Councilmember At Large James Harrity, 50, a resident of Kensington and former aide to State Senator Sharif Street.
- Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, 52, a resident of Northwood and former Chief of Staff to Councilmember Maria Quiñones Sánchez. Lozada will represent the 7th Council District.
- Councilmember Anthony Phillips, 33, a resident of Mt. Airy, and founder of the nonprofit Youth Action. Phillips was elected to represent the 9th Council District.
- Councilmember At Large Sharon Vaughn, 58, a resident of Feltonville, and former Chief of Staff to Councilmember Derek Green.
The newest members of Council were elected on November 8th to fill the unexpired terms of four Councilmembers who resigned to explore runs for Mayor. They included At Large Members Derek Green and Allan Domb, and District Members Cherelle L. Parker (9th) and Maria Quiñones Sánchez (7th).
Harrity, Lozada, Phillips and Vaughn will serve out these terms until January 2024. All 17 seats in City Council will be on the Primary Election ballot in May 2023 and then the General Election ballot in November, as members and challengers seek election to full four-year terms.
“We’re delighted to welcome Councilmembers Harrity, Lozada, Phillips and Vaughn to City Council,” said Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District) after today’s swearing-in ceremony. “We have a lot of work to do representing the people of Philadelphia. We still have far too many people living in poverty, gun violence remains at a totally unacceptable level, and many people in Philadelphia still lack access to an affordable place to live. We need all hands on deck, and we know our new members are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
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