Rebecca Rhynhart
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Rebecca Rhynhart
|image = Rebecca Rhynhart (cropped 2).jpg
|office = City Controller of Philadelphia
|term_start = {{start date|2018|1|1}}
|term_end = {{end date|2022|10|25}}
|predecessor = Alan Butkovitz
|successor = Christy Brady (acting)
|predecessor2 =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|9|29}}
|birth_place = Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = David McDuff
|education = Middlebury College (BA)
Columbia University (MPA)
}}
Rebecca Rhynhart (born September 29, 1974) is an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the City Controller of Philadelphia from 2018 to 2022. Prior to running for City Controller, Rhynhart worked in Philadelphia city government as City Treasurer and Budget Director in the administration of Mayor Michael Nutter.{{Cite web |title=Nutter is the second former Philly mayor to back Rhynhart |url=https://whyy.org/articles/micheal-nutter-endorses-rebecca-rhynhart-philadelphia-mayoral-race/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}} Prior to joining city government, Rhynhart worked in public financing at Fitch Ratings and then as a managing director for municipal derivatives at investment bank Bear Stearns, just prior to the financial collapse of 2008.{{Cite web |last=Nogueras |first=Carlos |title=Rebecca Rhynhart has seen it all in local government. Now, she’s running to right it |url=https://aldianews.com/en/politics/women-politics/rebecca-rhynharts-path |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Al Día News |language=en}}
Education
Rhynhart grew up in Reform Jewish family{{Cite news|first=Jarrad |last= Saffren|authorlink= |title= Jewish Democrat Rebecca Rhynhart Announces Mayoral Campaign |newspaper=Jewish Exponent|date= November 1, 2022 |url= https://www.jewishexponent.com/2022/11/01/jewish-democrat-rebecca-rhynhart-announces-mayoral-campaign/|via=}} in Abington, Pennsylvania.{{cite web |last1=Huber |first1=Robert |title=Rhynhart vs. Kenney: Inside the Most Contentious Relationship in City Hall |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/11/02/rebecca-rhynhart-kenney-philadelphia/ |website=Philadelphia Magazine |date=November 3, 2019 |access-date=July 27, 2021}} She has a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College and earned a graduate degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.{{Cite news|date=September 19, 2008|title=Rebecca Rhynhart and Steven Bright|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/fashion/weddings/21rhynhart.html}}
Political career
=Prior involvement in Philadelphia government=
In 2008, Rhynhart became Philadelphia’s City Treasurer as part of Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration. She subsequently became Budget Director, playing a pivotal role in the city’s economic recovery from The Great Recession.{{cite news|last1=Lucey|first1=Catherine|date=August 31, 2010|title=Nutter Names Rebecca Rhynhart Budget Director|publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/clout/Nutter_Names_Rebecca_Rhynhart_Budget_Director.html#loaded}}
Rhynhart also served as the Chief Administrative Officer in Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration.{{Cite web |title=Leadership & Experience |url=https://www.rebeccaforphiladelphia.com/leadership-and-experience |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117074757/https://www.rebeccaforphiladelphia.com/leadership-and-experience |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |website=Rebecca For Philly |language=en}}
=Philadelphia City Controller=
Rhynhart is the first woman ever elected to the office of controller in the city of Philadelphia.{{Cite web|url=https://controller.phila.gov/about/about-rebecca-rhynhart/|title=Rebecca Rhynhart|website=Office of the Controller}} She won a primary challenge by 17 percentage points against three-time democratic incumbent Alan Butkovitz in the Spring of 2017. This was considered a significant upset victory as it was an off-year election and Butkovitz was backed by the Democratic Party.{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Tom |date=October 1, 2017 |title=We Want Answers: How Rebecca Rhynhart Pulled Off the Political Upset of the Year |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/09/30/rebecca-rhynhart-city-controller-nominee/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124113406/https://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/09/30/rebecca-rhynhart-city-controller-nominee/ |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |publisher=Philadelphia}}
Rhynhart went on to defeat Republican Mike Tomlinson in the November general election of that same year where she won over 80% of the vote.{{Cite web |last=Otterbein |first=Holly |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Democrat Rebecca Rhynhart Easily Wins City Controller Election |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/11/07/rebecca-rhynhart-wins-general-election/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017001231/https://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/11/07/rebecca-rhynhart-wins-general-election/ |archive-date=October 17, 2021 |publisher=Philadelphia}}
On October 18, 2022, Rhynhart's office released a review of Philadelphia Police Department spending and performance. The report detailed disparities in 911 response times, crime fighting strategy, staffing issues, community relations, and data collection and usage.{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Jordan |date=October 18, 2022 |title=City audit: Understaffing and slower 911 response times for communities of color are major problems for Philly police |url=https://billypenn.com/2022/10/18/philadelphia-police-audit-understaffing-911-response-controller/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=Billy Penn |language=en-US}} It was widely perceived as critical of the police department.{{Cite web |last=Orso |first=Anna |date=October 18, 2022 |title=Philly Police Dept. has inconsistent strategies, slow response times, and outdated systems, city controller says |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/philadelphia-police-audit-budget-city-controller-20221018.html |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Holden |first=Joe |date=October 18, 2022 |title=City controller criticizes "inefficient, outdated" Philly PD |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/city-controller-report-criticizes-philadelphia-police-department/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=CBS Philadelphia |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Jeff |date=October 19, 2022 |title=Philadelphia Police FOP responds to city controller’s audit, claims it maligns the department |url=https://www.fox29.com/news/philadelphia-police-fop-responds-to-city-controllers-audit-claims-it-maligns-the-department |access-date=November 13, 2022 |website=FOX 29 Philadelphia |language=en-US}} One week later, on October 25, 2022, Rhynhart resigned from her position as controller to run for mayor. She told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she waited to start her campaign until after the release of the report.{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Jessica |date=October 25, 2022 |title=Philly City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart resigns to launch a run for mayor |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/rebecca-rhynhart-will-run-for-philadelphia-mayor-20221025.html |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}
2023 Philadelphia mayoral election
Rhynhart ran for mayor in the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral election. Her candidacy was endorsed by former mayors John Street and Michael Nutter.{{Cite web |title=Nutter is the second former Philly mayor to back Rhynhart |url=https://whyy.org/articles/micheal-nutter-endorses-rebecca-rhynhart-philadelphia-mayoral-race/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}} She came in second in the primary election.{{Cite web |last=Orso |first=Anna |date=2023-05-24 |title=Why Rebecca Rhynhart’s second-place campaign for Philly mayor still beat expectations |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/rebecca-rhynhart-philly-mayor-election-cherelle-parker-20230524.html |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}
References
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Category:21st-century Pennsylvania politicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:City controllers of Philadelphia
Category:Middlebury College alumni
Category:Pennsylvania Democrats
Category:Women in Pennsylvania politics