Pete Smith

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Pete Smith

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2019

Pete Smith (Republican Party) ran for election to the Philadelphia City Council to represent District 6 in Pennsylvania. Smith lost in the general election on November 5, 2019.

Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2019

See also: City council elections in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2019)

General election

General election for Philadelphia City Council District 6

Incumbent Bobby Henon defeated Pete Smith in the general election for Philadelphia City Council District 6 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bobby Henon (D)	60.5	12,910
		Pete Smith (R)	39.4	8,408
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	14

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 21,332
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Council District 6

Incumbent Bobby Henon advanced from the Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Council District 6 on May 21, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bobby Henon	99.7	7,390
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	19

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,409
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Philadelphia City Council District 6

Pete Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Philadelphia City Council District 6 on May 21, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Pete Smith	100.0	3,166
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	1

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,167
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Pete Smith completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Smith's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1. The Opioid Crisis

This will be one of my biggest focuses in City Council as like most Philadelphians and Americans this has personally affected my family. My approach to this will be bold and it will be a three faceted approach on Law Enforcement, Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Family and society reentry. I am in the process of working with experts in all fields associated with this including mental health professionals. Currently the city is enabling those addicted and not giving them fair treatment options to defeat this disease, and yes I consider it a mental health disease, because in most cases it’s the underlying mental health issues that keep one addicted. My approach will be to create a long term solution to eradicate the supply through intense law enforcement, at both the city and state level. A program in place that involves intervention, detoxification, treatment and rehabilitation with a focus on mental health evaluation, followed by therapy and training to reenter society. In addition we will need a program for family members including children to help with the transition.

2. Improving the Quality of Life for my neighbors.
As your candidate for City Council, my platform is predicated on improving the Quality of Life (QOL) for my neighbors. Once a bustling area for middle class workers, the people of the Northeast have been slowly forgotten by our elected officials – instead focusing mainly on special interest groups. As the politicians have turned their backs on our community, QOL issues have continued to plague the Northeast. Problems such as drugs, violent crime, poverty, property abandonment, irresponsible landlords, and illegal dumping have run rampant in our neighborhoods. Opioid use and its effects continue to infiltrate our neighborhoods and threaten our community. Basic city services such as trash collection and pothole maintenance are not performed in the timely fashion that us taxpayers deserve. While the politicians smile for the cameras, it is us who suffer from their incompetence. As your District City Councilman, I will bring accountability to City Council regarding our grievances and will diligently work to improve the QOL of the Northeast and bring a renewed sense of synergy to City Hall to implement strategies that will benefit all Philadelphians.
Our city has been run by a one-party system for well over 60 years and it has resulted in our Quality of Life falling to an all-time low. Philadelphia is the 5th largest city in the country but ranked the poorest of America’s 10 largest cities. As the rest of the state and country benefit from an economic boom that has set multiple records for growth, Philadelphia suffers economically. Decades of wasteful spending, mismanagement of city resources, and widespread corruption, have left the people of Philadelphia in economic peril. We can do more. We must do more. And, in this upcoming election, my candidacy will finally provide our community with the type of leadership to make positive, genuine changes to give our community the governance it deserves.

3. Improving the Public School System.
We have been told for years our public-school system is in shambles, yet nothing ever seems to change. Year after year, elected officials fail to deliver on campaign promises to improve our schools, yet remain in office. As I always like to say, “nothing changes if nothing changes.” If elected, I will halt that cycle and lack of accountability.

We need real solutions to our problems in the schools not just hopeless rhetoric. We need to prepare our children for life after 18, by ensuring they graduate as a productive member of society. Our politicians’ wheel of complacency towards our city’s public schools have left our community behind. Students are not graduating at a 12th grade level and yet nothing ever changes. Our community deserves a sound public school system and it is time we are given one. By improving our schools, we can forge the American Dream into new prosperity in the 21st century. This path to improvement will feature alternative learning in public schools in addition to standard curriculum. I will work for every family in the community by advocating a curriculum that offers the skills needed to give everyone the opportunity to succeed. I will work to include curriculum's for trade and technical training as well as financial literacy classes that attack real world issues such as banking, budgeting and balancing a check book. What good is learning Einstein’s Theory of Relativity if one is unable to track their finances? Our community has the talent to prosper we just need the proper leadership to give us the chance.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Anything that will help improve the quality of life for my neighbors, including enforcing laws and regulations on the books as well as modifying and creating new that fit within today's world. Currently we have no enforcement on up keep of properties, streets littered with abandoned cars and dumping grounds. Illegal and neglected rental properties. Our police force has been handcuffed by our district attorney to allow criminal behavior to rise at astronomical rates and the decriminalization of many of nuisance crimes that affect the QoL of neighbors.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father, instilled a strong work ethic in me and was always active within the community. He has always been the example I have always tried to emulate.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Since I do not consider myself a politician, I do not have a politically inspired book, or film. However I do recommend the book "The one minute manager" for anyone who wants to be a leader or a manager.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Listening to you constituents and honesty and integrity.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

i have been in a lot of different scenarios both good and bad that my neighbors I wish to represent, so I understand what they go through on a daily basis.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To represent the people who elect them, so that their QoL is high and they are able to support their families and live in a safe neighborhood.

What legacy would you like to leave?

that I was someone who was able to help with the Opiate epidemic and that I was able to help my neighbors.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan I was 15. When I cam e home from school, it felt the whole world had stopped and I remember just sitting there watching the news all day with my father.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Disco Dan the Ice Cream Man, I cleaned his truck for two summers when I was 16

What happened on your most awkward date?

I spent more time talking with her sister

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Thanksgiving, is when I cook an entire meal for all my family.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Donnie Brasco, My undercover life in the mafia. It was very exciting and educating on the mob as well as the FBI.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Any John Wayne Character, as I thought he was the greatest actor because he played himself.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

The Kitchen, I love to cook, and i love to have family and friends over and sit around the Kitchen Island and enjoy their company and conversation

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Tricky by RUN DMC

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Trying to help my son beat his heroin addiction

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Councilmatic prerogative, should be used to better the neighbors in your district, not those of special interests that keep one elected.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

as a neighbor, civic leader, and a businessman I feel that I can correct alot of the issues that have been plagued this city for so many years.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

As city council, you can shape not only the direction of your neighborhood but also the city

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

NO, because we need to keep fresh ideas and experiences from all areas to keep the city moving forward and not stagnant.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2019 Elections

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