Philly acting Controller Christy Brady has resigned but remains mum on whether she will run

Acting City Controller Christy Brady has resigned from the office effective immediately but did not indicate if she was planning to launch a campaign for controller.

The announcement came just one day after controller candidate Jack Inacker dropped out and endorsed her over Brady’s support from the Democratic City Committee’s policy committee. Democratic City Committee ward leaders are expected to endorse a candidate Monday.

Brady’s resignation statement stopped short of announcing her candidacy for city controller, and she declined to comment further Thursday evening.

“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 statement. “I will never stop working to promote transparency in government and to ensure an effective and fully accountable city government.”

Mayor Jim Kenney appointed Brady acting controller in November after Controller Rebecca Rhynhart resigned to run for mayor.

Kenney will appoint another acting controller with Brady’s departure.

In December, Brady challenged a policy in the City Charter requiring city employees to step down from their positions if they want to run for political office unless the employee is an official running for reelection. Because Brady was appointed and not elected, a Common Pleas Court judge ruled she was not an incumbent and must resign to run.

Two candidates have declared runs for controller in the May 16 primary.

Alexandra Hunt, a public health researcher, said she’s looking forward to discussing the issues and “moving the discussion away from whether or not [Brady] can be a candidate.”

Karen Javaruski is a banking professional and a committeeperson and treasurer for the 31st Ward. She told The Inquirer on Wednesday that she had strong support among party ward leaders and believes she could receive the official endorsement from the Democratic City Committee.