Philadelphia City Controller Rebecca Rynhart resigns, launches run for mayor
PHILADELPHIA - Rebecca Rynhart, the city controller for the City of Philadelphia, announced Tuesday that she is resigning from office and launching her campaign for mayor.
"After close to a decade of public service working for two different mayors, I decided to run for City Controller six years ago because I wanted to be an independent voice for the people and have a bigger impact on the city I love," Rynhart said in a statement.
Rhynhart was first elected as city controller in 2017, then she was re-elected in 2021. Her resignation comes just a week after her office released a review of the city's police spending that revealed staffing issues and varying 911 response times.
"In total, we have over 640 fewer officers available for duty than we had 5 years ago," Rhynhart explained in an interview with FOX 29’s Jeff Cole.
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Of Philadelphia's 6,000 police officers, Rhynhart reports that just 2,500 are assigned to patrol the city’s streets. The police department was budgeted more than $750 million at the time of the review.
"What needs to happen is that every position needs to be looked at," Rhynhart said.
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The financial watchdog also announced that she will be joining the run for Philadelphia mayor during a press conference on Tuesday:
"I love this city. I’ve spent nearly fifteen years working for the residents of our city – a decade with two different mayors and another five as the independently elected city controller. I’ve put forth thoughtful solutions to fix our city’s problems, so that our government works the way it should; but as Controller, that is where the power of my office ends. As Mayor, I can make these changes happen. As Mayor, I can turn audits into action, proposals into policy, and recommendations into results that make life better for Philadelphians."
Mayor Kenney will designate on the of office's existing deputies to serve as acting city controller.