Residents, communities, businesses, nonprofits, special interest groups, corporations, and not to mention a dozen relentless media outlets — everyone has questions for the mayoral candidates right now.

Yesterday, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) formally requested some detail-heavy answers from each candidate about how they would spur economic growth as mayor.

It’s a two-way street, though. The executive office needs to level with cross-county institutions like the GPCC, which represents some 600,000 employees in the Delaware Valley. We asked the candidates if they had any questions to fire back at the Chamber, and they did.

Jim Kenney

“Would you support an increase in community college-business partnerships that better align job training courses with the needs of Philadelphia employers?" 

"Would you work in partnership with the School District to supplement programs like art, music, athletics and other after school programs that have been cut due to underfunding?"

"Would you work in partnership with the School District to create community schools that provide wrap around services like job training and financial literacy classes for students and their parents?"

"Would you work with small and large businesses to grow and help strengthen the economy in neighborhoods outside Center City?”

Nelson Diaz

"One of the biggest challenges I'll face as Mayor is to fix our tax structure and make it both more equitable and more pro-growth, while increasing revenue. We know the basic outlines of how to do that, but we'll need help in Harrisburg to get it done.

Will you stand with me as an ally in that fight, and will you put intense pressure on Harrisburg Republicans to let us clean up our own house and manage our own fiscal affairs?"

Doug Oliver

"I would ask GPCC to have an increased focus on commercial corridors, small business development and entrepreneurship. I would also ask them for their support in creating opportunities to provide working capital (SBA loans) to small business."