CandidateMadness

With a 51-49 percent win over David Oh, Irv Ackelsberg has defeated all comers and claimed the title of March Madness, Candidates' Edition champion.

Ackelsberg bested a field of 64 candidates running for mayor and Council, including head-to-head wins over Cecil Hankins, Bob Brady, Joan Krajewski, Curtis Jones, Michael Nutter and Oh.

Oh appeared headed to victory, but a late push from Ackelsberg supporters put him over the top.

Final Four results

The votes are tallied and your March Madness, Candidates' Edition Championship will come down to two No. 9 seeds, Irv Ackelsberg and David Oh.

Ackelsberg edged out Michael Nutter, 568-525, while Oh defeated Wilson Goode, 276-217, in the semifinals this weekend.

Voting for the championship will continue until Thursday at 2 p.m., when we crown the people's champ.

Semifinal 1:
Michael Nutter vs. Irv Ackelsberg

Nutter

• In the real election: Running for mayor
• Experience: 15 years on City Council
• How he got to Final Four: The No. 2-seed in the Roosevelt Boulevard bracket, he defeated Republican at-large Council candidate Gary Grisafi, incumbent at-large Republican Councilman Jack Kelly, Democratic at-large candidate Bill Green and Democratic at-large candidate Matt Ruben.
• Why you should vote for him: Nutter is the lone mayoral candidate to make the Final Four. He’s been called a champion of ethics reform from his days on Council and is responsible for the smoking ban, which is a reason not to vote for him for some.

Ackelsberg

• In the real election:  Running for eighth district Council seat.
• Experience: Activist for low-income Philadelphians, former head of Community Legal Services.
• How he got to Final Four: The No. 9-seed in the Ben Franklin Parkway bracket, he defeated Democratic Council candidate Cecil Hankins, Democratic mayoral candidate Bob Brady, Democratic Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and Democratic Council candidate Curtis Jones Jr.
• Why you should vote for him: Points to his work in saving hundreds of families from losing their homes due to foreclosure. Was named national consumer advocate of the year in 2005. “I think voters are hungry for ... for someone who’s going to be looking out for the public and not just the protected and the connected.”

Semifinal 2:
W. Wilson Goode Jr. vs. David Oh

Goode

• In the real election: Running for at-large Democratic Councilman.
• Experience: Two terms on City Council.
• How he got to Final Four: The No. 3-seed in the Columbus Boulevard bracket, he defeated Democratic Council candidates John Longacre, Marnie Aument-Loughrey, Frank DiCicco and Daniel Savage.
• Why you should vote for him: Calls himself a proven leader on issues including creating better-paying jobs and fighting for fair lending, community investment and fairness in city contracting. “I believe that I bring an economic opportunity agenda that people will be able to relate to,” Goode said. “I’ve basically done what I said I was going to do when elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003.”

Oh

• In the real election:  Running for at-large Republican Councilman.
• Experience: Lawyer.
• How he got to Final Four: The No. 9-seed in the Germantown Avenue bracket, he defeated Democratic Council candidate Cindy Bass, Democratic mayoral candidate Dwight Evans, Republican Councilman Frank Rizzo, and Independent wannabe mayoral candidate Larry West.
• Why you should vote for him: “I think I’d make a good Councilperson because I believe I am pushing for the legislation that reflects what many Philadelphians want,” Oh said. He said he would focus on improving large economic engines, like shipping, for the city to become part of the global economy.

More: Metro Philadelphia.

Elite 8 results

Germantown Avenue Regional Final
(9) David  Oh def. (7) Larry West, 51-49 percent.

Columbus Boulevard Regional Final
(3) W. Wilson Goode Jr. def. (5) Dan Savage  55-45 percent.

Roosevelt Boulevard Regional Final
(2) Michael Nutter def. (12) Matt Ruben, 76-24 percent.

Ben Franklin Parkway Regional Final
(9) Irv Ackelsberg def. (6) Curtis Jones Jr., 69-31 percent.

Sweet 16

Germantown Avenue Bracket

(9) David Oh def. (4) Frank Rizzo
(7) Larry West def. (11) Derek Green

Columbus Boulevard Bracket

(5) Daniel Savage def. (1) Chaka Fattah
(3) W. Wilson Goode Jr. def. (2) Frank DiCicco

Roosevelt Boulevard Bracket

(12) Matt Ruben def. (8) Marc Stier
(2) Michael Nutter def. (11) Bill Green

Ben Franklin Parkway

(9) Irv Ackelsberg def. (4) Joan Krajewski
(6) Curtis Jones Jr. def. (7) Vern Anastasio

Second round

Germantown Avenue Bracket

(9) David Oh def. (1) Dwight Evans
(4) Frank Rizzo def. (5) Juan Ramos

(11) Derek Green def. (3) Darrell Clarke
(7) Larry West def. (2) Anna Verna

Columbus Boulevard Bracket

(1) Chaka Fattah def. (9) Andy Toy
(5) Daniel Savage def. (4) Brian O'Neill

(3) W. Wilson Goode Jr. def. (11) Marnie Aument-Loughrey
(2) Frank DiCicco def. (7) Matt McClure

Roosevelt Boulevard Bracket

(8) Marc Stier def. (16) Jesus White
(12) Matt Ruben def. (4) Marian Tasco

(11) Bill Green def. (14) Rev. Jesse Brown
(2) Michael Nutter def. (7) Jack Kelly

Ben Franklin Parkway

(9) Irv Ackelsberg def. (1) Bob Brady
(4) Joan Krajewski def. (12) Maceo Cummings

(6) Curtis Jones Jr. def. (14) Sean Patrick McAleer
(7) Vern Anastasio def. (2) Jannie Blackwell

Round of 64 results

Germantown Avenue Bracket

(1) Dwight Evans  def. (16) Queena Bass         
(9) David Oh def. (8) Cindy Bass
(5) Juan Ramos  def. (12) Benjamin Ramos
(4) Frank Rizzo def. (13) Milton Street
(11) Derek Green  def. (6) Al Taubenberger
(3) Darrell Clarke def. (14) Caryn Hunt
(7) Larry West  def. (10) Greg Paulmier                     
(2) Anna Verna def. (15) Lamont Thomas

Columbus Boulevard Bracket

(1) Chaka Fattah def. (16) William Black
(9) Andy Toy def. (8) Patricia Mattern
(5) Daniel Savage def. (12) Michael Seidenberg
(4) Brian O'Neill def. (13) Haile Johnson
(11) Marnie Aument-Loughrey def. (6) Sharif Street
(3) W. Wilson Goode Jr. def. (14) John Longacre
(7) Matt McClure def. (10) Maria Quinones-Sanchez
(2) Frank DiCicco def. (15) Harry Massele

Roosevelt Boulevard

(16) Jesus White def. (1) Tom Knox
(8) Marc Stier def. (9) Harry Lewandowski
(12) Matt Ruben def. (5) Blondell Reynolds Brown
(4) Marian Tasco def. (13) Lorina Marshall-Blake
(11) John Green def. (6) William Greenlee
(14) Rev. Jesse Brown def. (3) Jim Kenney
(7) Jack Kelly def. (10)  Phil Kerwick
(2) Michael Nutter def. (15) Gary Grisafi

Ben Franklin Parkway

(1) Bob Brady def. (16) Maurice Houston
(9) Irv Ackelsberg def. (8) Cecil Hankins
(12) Maceo Cummings def. (5) Donna Reed Miller
(4) Joan Krajewski def. (13) Alfred Sanford
(6) Curtis Jones Jr. def. (11) Damon K. Roberts
(14) Sean Patrick McAleer def. (3) Carol Campbell
(7) Vern Anastasio def. (10) Ray Bailey
(2) Jannie Blackwell def. (15) Rodney Little

Germantown Avenue Bracket

(1) Dwight Evans  def. (16) Queena Bass         
(9) David Oh def. (8) Cindy Bass
(5) Juan Ramos  def. (12) Benjamin Ramos
(4) Frank Rizzo def. (13) Milton Street
(11) Derek Green  def. (6) Al Taubenberger
(3) Darrell Clarke def. (14) Caryn Hunt
(7) Larry West  def. (10) Greg Paulmier                     
(2) Anna Verna def. (15) Lamont Thomas

Columbus Boulevard Bracket

(1) Chaka Fattah def. (16) William Black
(9) Andy Toy def. (8) Patricia Mattern
(5) Daniel Savage def. (12) Michael Seidenberg
(4) Brian O'Neill def. (13) Haile Johnson
(11) Marnie Aument-Loughrey def. (6) Sharif Street
(3) W. Wilson Goode Jr. def. (14) John Longacre
(7) Matt McClure def. (10) Maria Quinones-Sanchez
(2) Frank DiCicco def. (15) Harry Massele

Roosevelt Boulevard

(16) Jesus White def. (1) Tom Knox
(8) Marc Stier def. (9) Harry Lewandowski
(12) Matt Ruben def. (5) Blondell Reynolds Brown
(4) Marian Tasco def. (13) Lorina Marshall-Blake
(11) John Green def. (6) William Greenlee
(14) Rev. Jesse Brown def. (3) Jim Kenney
(7) Jack Kelly def. (10)  Phil Kerwick
(2) Michael Nutter def. (15) Gary Grisafi

Ben Franklin Parkway

(1) Bob Brady def. (16) Maurice Houston
(9) Irv Ackelsberg def. (8) Cecil Hankins
(12) Maceo Cummings def. (5) Donna Reed Miller
(4) Joan Krajewski def. (13) Alfred Sanford
(6) Curtis Jones Jr. def. (11) Damon K. Roberts
(14) Sean Patrick McAleer def. (3) Carol Campbell
(7) Vern Anastasio def. (10) Ray Bailey
(2) Jannie Blackwell def. (15) Rodney Little

Roosevelt Boulevard Bracket

(1) Tom Knox
(16) Jesus White

(8) Marc Stier
(9) Henry Lewandoswki

(5) Blondell Reynolds Brown
(12) Matt Ruben

(4) Marian B. Tasco
(13) Lorina Marshall-Blake

(6) Bill Greenlee
(11) Bill Green

(3) Jim Kenney
(14) Jesse Brown

(7) Jack Kelly
(10) Phil Kerwick

(2) Michael Nutter
(15) Gary Grisafi

Columbus Boulevard Bracket

(1) Chaka Fattah
(16) William Black

(8) Patricia Mattern
(9) Andy Toy

(5) Daniel Savage
(12) Michael Seidenberg

(4) Brian O'Neill
(13) Haile Johnson

(6) Sharif Street
(11) Marnie Aument-Loughrey

(3) W. Wilson Goode Jr.
(14) John Longacre

(7) Matt McClure
(10) Maria Quinones-Sanchez

(2) Frank DiCicco
(15) Harry Massele

Ben Franklin Parkway Bracket

(1) Bob Brady
(16) Maurice Houston

(8) Irv Ackelsberg
(9) Cecil Hankins

(5) Donna Reed Miller
(12) Maceo Cummings

(4) Joan Krajewski
(13) Alfred Sanford

(6) Curtis Jones Jr.
(11) Damon K. Roberts

(3) Carol Campbell
(14) Sean Patrick McAleer

(7) Vern Anastasio
(10) Raymond Bailey

(2) Jannie Blackwell
(15) Rodney Little