In 1970, a group of activists in the 27th ward organized a campaign to run committee people in enough divisions to elect a ward leader who would be independent of the Democratic City Committee’s mandates. The goal was to support candidates more responsive to community needs and promote policies that reflected the views of the residents of the 27th Ward. The effort was successful. After much organizational work, enough challengers won to elect their preferred ward leader at the reorganization meeting. Although the leaders of the Philadelphia City Committee originally denied seating this choice, the ward committee filed legal action that forced the DCC to abide by its own Rules. 

This tradition continues to this day. The rules accepted by the ward committee after this reform included all endorsements voted on by the full committee using a secret ballot, agreeing to objectively assess all candidates for office and support the candidate most qualified for the position, then work to have that candidate win the election by publishing a newsletter and distributing to all voters, as well as each committeeperson canvassing their division to gain support for the selected candidate. The elected ward leader would abide by these rules, and never endorse a candidate independent of the full ward’s choice. 

Although over the years the ward was punished for this independence, especially during the administration of Frank Rizzo, the 27th Ward has maintained its independence and its dedication to these principles, since 1971. The recent trend to create “open wards” has replicated in many ways what the 27th Ward began in 1971.