Philadelphia acting City Controller Christine Brady has resigned from her post in an announcement made from the office of City Controller, on Friday morning, Feb. 3. 

The decision was first made public Thursday afternoon, Feb. 2. 

She did not offer an explanation, or her next plans, with no replacement named as of publication. Brady spent nearly three decades working behind the scenes at the City Controller’s office. 

“It has been a great honor to serve the city and its residents as an employee of the office for almost three decades,” Brady said in her resignation statement. “I will never stop working to promote transparency in government and to ensure an effective and fully accountable city government.”

This follows a near three month stint as City Controller after Mayor Jim Kenney appointed her in November 2022, following Rebecca Rhynhart’s resignation in October, when she decided to run for Mayor. 

Kenney will have to appoint a new acting City Controller for the second time in less than four months.

“I’ve dedicated my career to protecting the citizens of Philadelphia from fraud, waste and abuse and to improving the effectiveness of government operations,” she said. 

Brady’s announcement also comes over a day after candidate Jack Inacker announced he dropped out of the race Wednesday morning, Feb. 2, after Brady received overwhelming support from a Democratic City Committee panel. 

“I greatly appreciate the DCC’s Policy Committee’s thorough review of my professional experience,” Brady said following the committee panel. “Their confidence in me reaffirms my ability to perform the duties of the position at the highest level while determining the next steps on how I can best serve the city.”

Former U.S. Representative of Pennsylvania Bob Brady, who leads the Democratic City Committee, was high on Brady following the panel's overwhelming endorsement of her. 

Democratic City Committee Ward leaders still have to vote on the party endorsement with Brady telling the Philadelphia Inquirer Wednesday morning that he expected a final vote this upcoming Monday, Feb. 6. But with Brady’s resignation, it might throw a wrench into those plans. 

Brady has been silent about the possibility of running for the office. She reconsidered it consulting with the city’s Law Department in December about whether the “resign to run” rule applied to her. 

The City Charter policy requires city workers to resign first before seeking elected office but makes an exception for officials running for reelection. However, Brady was appointed, not elected. In January, Common Pleas Court Judge Anne Marie Coyle rejected Brady’s request to treat her like an incumbent running for reelection. 

One of the competing candidates, Alexandra Hunt, a public health researcher and advocate, commented on Brady’s endorsement from the committee. 

“I think it’s a bizarre endorsement of someone who isn’t a candidate and who isn’t allowed to be a candidate until she resigns based on the city charter and a recent legal ruling,” Hunt said. 

Who’s still in? 

Under normal circumstances, the City Controller is elected every two years after the mayor and City Council. However, Rhynhart’s resignation in October prompted a special election. 

Following a primary on May 16, and a general election, the new appointee will serve the remainder of Rhynhart’s term that is set to end in early 2026. 

While Brady is still uncertain, for now, the city has three Democratic candidates who have formally notified the city’s Board of Ethics of intent to run: 

They are enterprise risk management professional Karen Javaruski, activist and former congressional candidate Alexandra Hunt, and realtor Gregg Kravitz.

With the primary in over three months, candidates can begin passing on nominating petitions to secure a spot on the ballot on Feb. 14., with petitions due by March 7.