Three weeks before the mayoral election in Philadelphia, the candidates faced a unique panel of questioners: second-graders at the Please Touch Museum. In a special event organized by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the museum, kids posed inquiries that mirrored concerns of adult voters.
Questions ranged from addressing city safety and road repairs to the challenges of running for mayor. Democrat Cherelle Parker engaged with the pint-sized audience with ease, revealing her background as a certified secondary English teacher and sharing her love for the subject.
Republican David Oh, while noting the difficulty of winning as an underdog candidate, delved into property tax assessments when asked about aiding homeless people as mayor.
The children relished the experience, with one proclaiming it “the best day ever.” Their questions shed a playful yet insightful light on the mayoral race.
The candidates will engage in a formal debate broadcast on KYW Newsradio on October 26, leading up to the election on November 7.