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Philadelphia's City Council special election of 1956 was held to fill the seat vacated by Democrat
John F. Byrne, Sr. when he resigned to join the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Democrat
Leon Kolankiewicz
Leon Kolankiewicz (April 6, 1892 – June 1971) was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician from Philadelphia.
Kolankiewicz was born in Philadelphia in 1892, the son of Polish American, Polish immigrants Lawrence and Catherine K ...
defeated Republican
Max Leon
Max M. Leon (1904 – November 2, 1984) was an impresario, radio producer, conductor, musicologist, opera manager, referee, and businessman. He had a wide array of talents and interests which led him towards a highly diversified career in man ...
for the seat.
Election
Under Philadelphia's city charter, seven
city council at-large seats were created, of which two were guaranteed to the minority party. After the
1955 elections, one of those seats was occupied by Democrat
John F. Byrne, Sr. The following year, Governor
George M. Leader
George Michael Leader (January 17, 1918 – May 9, 2013) was an American politician. He served as the 36th governor of Pennsylvania from January 18, 1955, until January 20, 1959. He was a member of the Democratic Party, and a native of York Count ...
appointed Byrne to a seat on the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Byrne resigned his council seat, and a special election was called to replace him.
The Democrats selected
Leon Kolankiewicz
Leon Kolankiewicz (April 6, 1892 – June 1971) was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician from Philadelphia.
Kolankiewicz was born in Philadelphia in 1892, the son of Polish American, Polish immigrants Lawrence and Catherine K ...
, a state representative and president of the local chapter of American Relief for Poland. The Republicans chose
Max Leon
Max M. Leon (1904 – November 2, 1984) was an impresario, radio producer, conductor, musicologist, opera manager, referee, and businessman. He had a wide array of talents and interests which led him towards a highly diversified career in man ...
, a local impresario and businessman who owned the
WDAS (AM) radio station. Both candidates had Polish roots: Leon was a Polish-Jewish immigrant who had left Poland at age 16, while Kolankiewicz was the son of Polish Catholic immigrants.
Results
Kolankiewicz was elected with a 140,000-vote majority. He continued to serve on City Council until 1967.
See also
*
List of members of Philadelphia City Council since 1952
On January 7, 1952, Philadelphia's current city charter took effect. The city council created under that charter consists of seventeen members. Ten are elected from equal-sized districts, and seven are elected at-large in a citywide vote. For the s ...
References
Sources
*
{{1956 United States elections
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number. Each ...
Philadelphia City Council elections
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number. Each ...