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.

Comments

[FreeMilton]

There were like 280 votes in the Nutter vs. Ackelsberg contest yesterday and Nutter had over 65%. How are there now fewer votes and
Ackelsberg has more than 50%?

[Josh Cornfield]

I posted earlier (it got erased, it looks like) that yesterday's results were corrupted. Voting began again this morning. The poll up yesterday was corrupted.

Sorry for any confusion. Voting should now be limited to one vote per browser, not unlimited as it was yesterday.