Democratic City Controller candiate Brett Mandel at last week's budget workshop at St. Dom's in Holmesburg.

By Christopher Wink

It’s certainly early for any buzz for a city controller’s race, but, well, it’s what we have, and considering two of the leading candidates have Northeast ties, it seems this becomes a NEast story.

But now there’s a third. Former Court of Common Pleas Judge John L. Braxton, who lives in Northern Liberties, says he will be competing in the May Democratic primary for the controller office, which is charged with auditing and otherwise overseeing city government spending.

While none of the now three candidates have launched campaign Web sites, Brett Mandel, who grew up in Rhawnhurst, launched a Facebook page to collect supporters.

Current City Controller Alan Butkovitz, who has lived in the Northeast since 1973 and now calls Castor Gardens home, told NEastPhilly.com last week that his Web site is in the work.

“I’m still focusing on my primary responsibility,” Butkovitz said. “That is serving as city controller.”