Editing Ed Rendell (section)

==Mayor of Philadelphia==
[[File:Mayor Ed Rendell.jpg|thumb|left|Rendell as mayor]]
In 1987, Rendell ran for the Democratic nomination against the incumbent [[mayor of Philadelphia|mayor]], [[Wilson Goode]] and lost. Rendell ran successfully four years later, in 1991. His opponent was to be Democrat-turned-Republican former Philadelphia Mayor, [[Frank Rizzo]]. Rizzo, however, died in the summer of 1991; in November 1991, Rendell won by more than a 2–1 margin against Joseph M. Egan, Jr., Rizzo's replacement on the Republican ticket.<ref name="Dead_Vote">{{cite web|author=Scott Farmelant|title=Dead Men Can Vote- Voting fraud is alive and well in Philadelphia|publisher=Philadelphia City Paper|date=October 12–19, 1995|url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/101295/article009.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910154436/http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/101295/article009.shtml|archive-date=2014-09-10}}</ref>

As mayor, Rendell inherited massive fiscal problems. The state legislature established a fiscal oversight board to monitor the City of Philadelphia's fiscal issues. During his career as mayor, Rendell cut a $250 million deficit, balanced Philadelphia's budget and oversaw five consecutive years of budget surpluses, reduced business and wage taxes for four consecutive years, implemented new revenue-generating initiatives, and dramatically improved services to Philadelphia neighborhoods. He was given the nickname "Philadelphia's Renaissance or Revival" because of how well he did with the budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.edwardrendell.com/biography|title = Biography - Edward G. Rendell}}</ref> He also appointed Philadelphia's first ever Latino deputy mayors, [[Benjamin Ramos]] and Manuel Ortiz. Rendell's cost-cutting policies brought him strong opposition from [[trade union|labor unions]]; however, he was re-elected in 1995, defeating Republican [[Joe Rocks]] with 80% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|last=November 1996|first=1st|title=Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell: 1996 Municipal Leader of the Year|url=https://www.americancityandcounty.com/1996/11/01/philadelphia-mayor-ed-rendell-1996-municipal-leader-of-the-year/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=American City and County|date=November 1996|language=en-US}}</ref>

Rendell's first term as mayor was chronicled in a best-selling book ''A Prayer for the City'' by journalist [[Buzz Bissinger]]. The author was given practically unlimited access to the mayor during that term. ''[[The New York Times]]'' called Rendell's job as mayor "the most stunning turnaround in recent urban history" due to his determination, inspiration, ambition, and his energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democraticgovernors.org/governors/373/governor-edward-g-rendell|title=Democratic Governors Association: Governor Edward G. Rendell|access-date=2016-02-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810033105/http://www.democraticgovernors.org/governors/373/governor-edward-g-rendell|archive-date=2007-08-10}}</ref>

In 1996, Rendell signed an executive order, [http://www.phila.gov/ExecutiveOrders/Executive%20Orders/2-96.pdf 2-96], which allowed same-sex couples of Philadelphia health benefits.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-02-03|title=Councilwoman Proposes Same-Sex Benefits for City Workers|url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2011/02/03/councilwoman-proposes-same-sex-benefits-for-city-workers/|access-date=2020-06-16|website=Philadelphia Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Klarman|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e8by2JjCqaEC&pg=PA59|title=From the Closet to the Altar: Courts, Backlash, and the Struggle for Same-Sex Marriage|date=2013|publisher=OUP USA|isbn=978-0-19-992210-9|pages=59|language=en}}</ref>

To date, Rendell is the last Philadelphia Mayor to not have previously served as member of [[Philadelphia City Council]].