First Anne Dicker. Then Joe Vignola. Then John Dougherty. And now Larry Farnese.
As of Monday, four people were officially circulating petitions to run for South Philadelphia’s First District Senate seat.
In some corners, that is being read as evidence that more and more politicos are hedging their bets that Sen. Vincent Fumo, with 139 counts hanging over his head, won’t run for re-election after all.
All evidence is to the contrary.
Fumo is hosting a “petition party” this weekend at the Waterfall Room in South Philly. He has filmed a TV campaign ad.
Yet Farnese, a Center City lawyer with Fumo ties as well as some to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, decided this week to start circulating petitions for the Senate seat – in addition to those he is circulating for his re-match against state House Rep. Babette Josephs.
The move has fueled talk that it’s not because he wants to challenge Fumo, but because he knows something others don’t: Either Fumo won’t be in the race til the end, or maybe Fumo won’t get in it to begin with and Farnese will be his stand-in.
Farnese campaign manager Renee Gilinger says it’s all wishful thinking.
The decision was the campaign’s own. “He is not beholden to anybody,” Gilenger said. “We saw an opportunity for a candidate like Larry to do well in that seat, and we want to keep our options open. If you don’t have signatures, you don’t have options.”
The petitions are due Tuesday.
Others say Farnese was motivated by the sudden presence of a new candidate in bid to unseat Josephs – Bob Gormley, a Local 98 member of Dougherty’s electricians’ union. The thinking is that Gormley, who hails from Grays Ferry, threatens to steal away that neighborhood’s vital votes from Farnese, screwing up Farnese’s plans to finally oust Josephs.
So – keep following this – to get back at Dougherty, who of course leads Local 98, Farnese is jumping into the Senate race to muddy the waters for the union leader, who wants to see Fumo dethroned.
One irony: Dougherty supported Farnese' in his 2006 primary battle against Josephs.
Ah, Philadelphia politics.
Meanwhile, the one guy who admits that Fumo asked him to run in his place – should Fumo win but not be able to fulfill his term – won’t do it.
“There was a time in my life I would have been interested,” City Councilman Jim Kenney said. But not now, not now that he is 5th in seniority among his 16 colleagues. Not since his former Council buddy, Michael Nutter, is now mayor.
Said Kenney of his answer to Fumo: “He accepted my decision.”
Comments (2)
Larry Farense is a fraud.
Fumo's guys were circulating franese's petitions for state rep. Now, to pay his master back, Farnese must run for senate to keep 8th ward votes from Dicker.
Farnese is finished. Even if this was his idea, Farnese is aiding an alleged criminal.
Don't be fooled by Farnese.
Posted by pete peterson | February 11, 2008 2:54 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 14:54
Larry Farnese’s signatures have been challenged by Dougherty, although apparently Dicker’s people were considering it as well. Usually thats a tough case to make but some of his sheets have been circulating the internet and some of the more comical highlights are right here ->
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24107548@N04/22890393…
My personal favorite is the one where Farnese campaign manager Renee Gilinger (or someone signing her name) apparently forgot how to spell her name on the affidavit writing it first “Rene” and then writing over it with the second “e” on the end.
It may turn out to be 3 in the primary race after all.
Posted by seand | February 24, 2008 9:40 PM
Posted on February 24, 2008 21:40