Q&A with Alexandra Hunt, Candidate for Philadelphia City Controller

It’s imperative that we pay attention to local races, even if they aren’t our own – that’s how Republicans have trampled on our rights, and that’s how we have to fight back to protect our lives. We need progressive electeds who protect working people up and down the ballot.

Our next post of our 2023 primary election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive candidates throughout Pennsylvania. Candidates can be anywhere in Pennsylvania running for any level of office. Please note that these are not necessarily endorsements, more of an opportunity for candidates to connect with the LGBTQ community, progressives neighbors, and others with an interest in Western Pennsylvania. If your candidate would like to participate, please contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. We welcome candidates at all levels of government across the entire Commonwealth.

By participating, candidates are saying that they

must be an LGBTQIA+ ally, specifically supporting equality and dignity for transgender persons
identify as pro-choice
must affirm that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and that they accept the certified Pennsylvania’s election results

I first leaned about Alexandra during her previous campaign for Congress. I thought it was gutsy and smart that she leaned into her history as a sex worker to use an OnlyFans page as a fundraiser. I thought it was equally smart that she was bringing her background in public health into a race. Alexandra is the third person running for Controller whom I’ve interviewed this cycle and she’s taught me quite a bit. I had never heard of a Public Bank before and had no idea that Philadelphia City Council approved one but didn’t fund it. She does a good job of laying out the power and impact of a strong independent Controller.

Your Name: Alexandra Hunt

Your Pronouns: She/her

The Office You Seek: Philadelphia City Controller

How do you describe your identity?

I am an open minded individual who believes love triumphs over all.

Tell us about your district. What is a hidden gem most people might not know about?

Philadelphia is full of gems. One of my favorites is Kurt Evan’s program EMI Dinners, which empowers and centers a formerly incarcerated person’s story each event, brings people from different walks of life together to listen and support. The celebrated guest gets a check from everyone’s ticket. It’s a really special thing. Kurt does the menu and finds different people to speak.

Tell us about the first LGBTQ person you met and what impact they had on your life? Using initials or pseudonyms is fine.

I was one of the safe people folks could talk to during high school; I knew a lot of people and walked with them through the process of coming out with a lot of people. I’ve seen the difficulty of living your truth when there’s so much stigma around you. But at the end there’s a glow-up. You see them love themselves and people around them and get partners who they want to be with. They’re folks I’ve learned from in so many ways, maybe none more so than that it is important to live your truth even when it’s hard. That’s part of why I’m running right now.

In this way, I have been able to energize other marginalized individuals and show that my status as a former stripper and current Onlyfans creator does not make me any less of a viable candidate. In fact, it makes me an even stronger candidate by giving me a first-hand understanding of the struggles of working-class women, who make up the bulk of my constituency.

How has your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in your district and the region changed since your 2022 campaign for Congress?

Since my run for Congress, I’ve returned to dating scenes and connected to young singles through dating apps. I’ve continued to grow and create new relationships within the LGBTQ community.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for Philadelphia? How will you respond to those priorities?

Protecting trans youth, making sure we are destigmatizing LGBTQ relationships particularly in the public health space (eg Monkeypox), fight discrimination in the workplace, and fully decriminalize sex work.

Please give an example of how intersectionality has informed your work.

People are like onions – with layers and different experiences. There is no one size fits all answer to issues; my understanding of intersectionality roots me in individualizing approaches in a way that is trauma-informed and supportive.

Help us understand the difference between the City Treasurer and the City Controller. Why are both necessary?

The Treasurer handles processing of payments and investments; the Controller evaluates whether those payments are being made efficiently, effectively and per City requirements.

Your 2022 campaign for Congress made an impact even though you didn’t win. You raised a lot of money while resisting a lot of stereotypes and tropes about women candidates in particular. You also started conversations about progressive issues that mainstream candidates evade. What do you think is the legacy of that campaign? How are you pivoting to this one?

Everyday, we receive messages and comments from young women telling us how much I have inspired them with my run for Congress. Through my candidacy, I have shown younger girls (and all women in general) that our struggles as women do not preclude us from having a voice. Rather, we must use our voices as a means of fighting for change. Who better to advocate for the rights of sex workers than a former sex worker herself? My congressional campaign’s legacy is one of creating a new generation of uplifted and empowered women, who now know the power they have to spark important dialogue and create change. This time around, we are keeping the same energy. I am still incredibly open about my past as a sex worker while still remaining primarily focused on policy and change-making. In this way, I have been able to energize other marginalized individuals and show that my status as a former stripper and current Onlyfans creator does not make me any less of a viable candidate. In fact, it makes me an even stronger candidate by giving me a first-hand understanding of the struggles of working-class women, who make up the bulk of my constituency.

Your campaign platform calls for a public bank. What is that and how would it benefit Philadelphians? Are there positive examples elsewhere?

A public bank is a financial institution that is owned and funded by the local or state government instead of a private entity. Its purpose is to serve the interests of the people instead of the interests of corporations. The money from that public bank can then be used to directly fund the community, providing money for public institutions and services such as schools and healthcare, thus benefiting said community. Since public banks do not seek to maximize their profits, they can also charge lower interest rates for their loans compared to private banks. This means the government can borrow money from these institutions for a low cost, saving millions of dollars that can be reinvested into the community. Something like this is necessary in a city like Philadelphia, where capital interests have come in to destabilize neighborhoods through policing, gentrification, environmental destruction, and more. Philadelphians need a stable financial institution that answers to them instead of private investors. One positive example of a public bank is the Bank of North Dakota (BND). BND offers some of the lowest student loan rates in the country, making education within the state more accessible. Most of BND’s lending is with community banks and credit unions. This has helped sustain these institutions, which has in turn led to a stronger economy, a greater ability for small businesses and farms to grow, and more jobs. Since its inception in the early 1900s, BND has generated billions of dollars in profit. Much of that money goes directly to North Dakota’s general state fund, providing support for public services like education and lowering the tax burden on the local working-class. Public banks strengthen communities. As City Controller, I will fight to make sure that Philadelphians experience that strength.

Your website reads “Right now, line items in budgets create lines for food or healthcare. The City Controller can make sure Philly’s money is spent on people, not corporate interests.” City Council and the Mayor determine those line items as part of their budgetary powers. The City Controller is bound by that budget and other laws around expenditures. Please give a specific example of how the Controller can “make sure” funding is spent on people over corporate interests.

Philadelphia’s City Controller has authority to propose financial strategies and provide fiscal analysis outlining best practices and implementation plans. It can also audit city spending that is purported to support people in Philadelphia and evaluate whether it is instead going to someone or a corporation’s pockets. These powers are bound by the budget, yes, but there’s more to politics and the Controller’s jurisdiction; as just one example, when Philadelphia’s City Council passed legislation for a public bank, neither the Mayor nor the Controller took responsibility for finding the money for it. That’s a concrete difference-making institution that needs to happen, and a Controller can find the money to do that. Finally, proposing a good plan can go a long way to accomplishing a specific goal. Philadelphia schools face a half billion dollar deficit in the next few years. Stepping up to propose a plan that closes that deficit while updating and renovating failing school infrastructure to meet the needs of a new climate and new pandemic environment can move the needle in City Council, and we would do everything in concert with movement allies across levels of government.

My congressional campaign’s legacy is one of creating a new generation of uplifted and empowered women, who now know the power they have to spark important dialogue and create change.

How do competitive primary elections benefit the residents of a community?

Primary elections give the community the ability to directly challenge the Establishment. Too often, general elections consist of two candidates who ultimately seek one thing: power. These candidates serve the millionaires, billionaires, corporations, and Super PACS that fund their campaigns instead of the working-class people who voted for them and are the most in-need of assistance. Through competitive primary elections, voters have the ability to take power away from these wealthy bureaucrats and instead elect people who will answer to them instead of their donors. It provides an avenue for the Establishment to be taken down in favor of progressive, grassroots candidates, which will benefit the community by providing it with a strong advocate.

What are three reasons people should vote for you/support your campaign?

I know what it’s like to have an empty bank account. Philadelphia, the poorest big city in the United States, needs an elected official who understands the working-class struggle. This lived experience makes me a better advocate for my community as opposed to my rich, Establishment opponents.
I will fight for Philadelphians, not corporations. I am running a completely grassroots campaign, funded by the people. I accept no donations from Super PACS and corporations. As City Controller, I will continue to keep my focus upon my constituents instead of the billionaires seeking to gentrify, pollute, and surveil Philadelphia neighborhoods.
I will ensure transparency within the City Controller’s office. If elected, I will establish and expand the City Controller data dashboard, where residents can easily access the City’s budget and see exactly how each department is spending its money. I will also build an internal office within the Office of the City Controller to act as quality control. This way, I can assure my adherence to ethical practices. Philadelphians deserve to know where their taxpayer dollars are going and need someone who will promote that transparency while ensuring work of the best caliber.

Tell me about your other endorsements and supporters.

We have received endorsements from BlueAmerica and Progressive Victory. Our supoprters are a combination of older and younger people, who understand we need urgent change now.

You can find me @thealexandrahunt on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, or @hunt4change on Twitter.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

It’s imperative that we pay attention to local races, even if they aren’t our own – that’s how Republicans have trampled on our rights, and that’s how we have to fight back to protect our lives. We need progressive electeds who protect working people up and down the ballot, and that’s why I am running for Controller. We can fund our solutions, and we have to take the steps to get there.

Where can readers find your campaign on social media?

Thank you, Alexandra.

Other Q&A’s in this election cycle series. You can read previous cycle Q&A’s here.

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