Seth Bluestein Confirmed as City Commissioner

Today, Philadelphia City Council confirmed the nomination of Seth Bluestein as Philadelphia City Commissioner . Commissioner Bluestein will fill the remainder of former City Commissioner Al Schmidt’s term, which concludes in January 2024. Serving alongside Chairwoman Lisa Deeley and Vice Chair Omar Sabir, Bluestein will oversee election operations and voter registration for the City of Philadelphia

Mr. Bluestein has spent the past ten years serving Philadelphians in the Office of the City Commissioners, most recently as Chief Deputy for former City Commissioner Al Schmidt. From 2018 through 2021 Mr. Bluestein also served as the department’s Chief Integrity Officer. A lifelong Philadelphian, Bluestein earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Seth was absolutely the best choice for this position,” said City Commissioners’ Chairwoman Lisa Deeley. “Nobody else could have stepped into the role and made such a seamless transition as Seth. We are now ready to move on unabated to preparing for the mid-term elections. I would like to thank Mayor Kenney and council for the wisdom of their pick.”

Commissioner Seth Bluestein added, “I am honored and humbled by the support I’ve received from Mayor Kenney and city council to serve as city commissioner. Throughout my ten years serving the voters of Philadelphia, I have focused on improving the voter experience and ensuring our elections remain fair, secure, and accessible. I look forward to continuing my service in this new capacity and working with my colleagues and staff to expand access to voter services and help oversee a successful 2022 election.”