Philadelphia Councilmember Allan Domb resigns, says he is considering run for mayor

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia City Councilmember Allan Domb announced Monday that he is resigning from City Council effective immediately and considering a run for mayor.

In an exclusive interview with Action News, Domb, a Democrat, said he made this decision because the city is in crisis and needs major change.

"It's the responsible thing to do, as I consider a run for mayor, mainly because Philadelphia is a city in crisis. It's a public safety crisis, people don't feel safe in their homes, they don't feel safe going to work, they don't feel safe with their children going to schools," he said.

Domb was elected to Philadelphia City Council in 2015 after a long career in real estate.

"We need somebody who wants the job. You have to want this job. This is a tough job. You have to want it with everything in you and you have to be willing to commit. And people who know me know that I work seven days a week, 24 hours a day. I am a worker," Domb told Action News.

Domb's comments come after Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney made controversial comments following a shooting during the July 4th celebration in the city in which two police officers were injured.

"I'm concerned every single day. There's not an event or a day where I don't lay on my back at night look at the ceiling and worry about stuff," Kenney said in a press conference following the July shooting.

But the mayor raised eyebrows when he continued, "So everything we have had in the city over the last seven years, I worry about. I don't enjoy the Fourth of July. I didn't enjoy the Democratic National Convention. I didn't enjoy the NFL Draft. I'm waiting for something bad to happen all the time. I'll be happy when I'm not mayor and I can enjoy some stuff," Kenney said.

Kenney's current term as mayor will expire in 2024.

Al Schmidt, president and CEO of the Committee of 70, said the city can soon expect to hear about more potential mayoral candidates taking swipes at Kenney, along with more resignations from Council.

"Philadelphia is unique in that you have a resign-to-run law. Meaning, unless you're running for reelection for the same seat you currently hold, you have to resign to run for the other seat," Schmidt said.

Officials expect more City Council members to resign and announce their candidacy for mayor over the next few weeks.

Domb released the statement below on Monday:

"As I announce my resignation from the Philadelphia City Council today, I am immensely grateful to Philadelphians for putting their trust in me to lead and I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished over the past nearly seven years. From putting hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the pockets of hardworking families, to helping keep our hospitality industry afloat during the peak of the pandemic, to providing vital relief for workers and businesses, to protecting homeowners and supporting educational and workforce initiatives, we have delivered real results for the city and its people. But there is more work to be done.

"Today, our city is at a crossroads - Philadelphia is the poorest big city in the country. We are staring down the highest murder rate in our history. Too many people don't feel safe in their homes, their cars, on our transit systems and streets. Too many residents and businesses lack the basic opportunities necessary to thrive in our communities. But while the challenges we face are great, so too is the opportunity we have to be the city our people deserve. Now more than ever, we need to enact common sense and practical solutions to improve the lives of all Philadelphians, prioritizing public safety in a meaningful way.

"Ours is a city of fighters and believers and I will never stop working to create a Philadelphia that lives up to its promise for all."