Rebecca Rhynhart
Rebecca Rhynhart | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1974 Abington, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Known for | First woman elected Philadelphia City Controller (2018–2022) |
Rebecca Rhynhart (born September 29, 1974) is a politician from Pennsylvania affiliated with the Democratic Party. She held the position of City Controller for Philadelphia between 2018 and 2022. Prior to her role as City Controller, Rhynhart occupied significant fiscal positions within Philadelphia’s municipal government, serving as City Treasurer and Budget Director during Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration. Before entering public office, she gained experience in public finance at Fitch Ratings and was managing director for municipal derivatives at investment bank Bear Stearns prior to the 2008 financial downturn.
Education
Raised in a Reform Jewish household in Abington, Pennsylvania, Rhynhart earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and completed a Master of Public Administration at Columbia University.
Early roles in Philadelphia government
In 2008, Rhynhart was appointed Philadelphia’s City Treasurer under Mayor Michael Nutter. She subsequently served as Budget Director, playing a pivotal role in guiding the city through economic recovery following The Great Recession. Additionally, she acted as Chief Administrative Officer during Mayor Jim Kenney’s term.
Tenure as Philadelphia City Controller
Rhynhart made history as the first woman elected to the office of Philadelphia City Controller. In the 2017 Democratic primary, she achieved a notable victory by defeating three-term incumbent Alan Butkovitz by a margin of 17 points, overcoming his party endorsement in an off-year election. She then secured more than 80% of the vote against Republican Mike Tomlinson in the general election.
On October 18, 2022, her office issued a comprehensive audit criticizing the Philadelphia Police Department on several fronts including 911 response efficiency, crime prevention tactics, staffing levels, community engagement, and data handling. This report generated considerable attention from both the public and police officials.
A week later, on October 25, 2022, Rhynhart stepped down from her controller position to pursue a mayoral campaign, explaining that she postponed her announcement until after releasing the audit findings.
2023 Philadelphia mayoral election
In the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral election, Rhynhart campaigned for mayor and earned endorsements from former mayors John Street and Michael Nutter. She ultimately placed second in the primary election.