Heard in the Hall

Lunching today at the Capital Grille on South Broad, a hatchery for political schemes of all stripes: Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, who says he is running for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010; former City Controller Jonathan Saidel; Common Pleas Judge John Younge of Philadelphia, a Democratic nominee for Superior Court in the Nov. 6 election; Republican consultant Aaron Cohen; and Democratic operative Charles Breslin, a confidant of Gov. Rendell.

Heard in the Hall hears that among the items on the menu was talk that Saidel might run for lieutenant governor three yeras hence, perhaps in alliance with Cunningham.

At-large GOP City Council candidate David Oh was interviewed last night by Young Philly Politics. Apparently they talked for over an hour, which is easy to believe. In addition to knowing how to have a good time, David Oh can jaw it out with best of them.

Oh tells YPP that if does manage to pull off a victory in November's election (which itself would have to be considered at least a minor upset), he'll eventually run for Mayor.

Young Philly Politics continues to go after Councilman Darrell Clarke for allegedly getting his primary opponent's empty-lot cleanup contract cancelled. They've got photos...

Would a Mayor Nutter have Chief of Staff Jim Kenney as his right-hand man?

No chance, Councilman Kenney says, shooting down a rumor that was first publicly floated in a City Paper article the other day.

“If he asked me I’d be flattered, but I’m not interested,” Kenney said. “It’s too much work. It's like being mayor."

Kenney and Nutter worked well together as council members, and they are often of similar minds when it comes to policy. But Kenney thinks he can accomplish just as much — and put in a few less hours at the office — by staying on Council.

“I’m going to be loyal oarsman for the next administration,” he said. “People expect council and the mayor to be on the same page. For a lot of reasons that hasn’t happened, but we have a new chance to get our act together.”

Nutter of course isn’t yet saying who he will ask to serve in his adminstration. It's premature, there's an election in November, so forth and so on.

The Daily News takes a look at a pair of possibly competitive City Council races in the 8th and 10th districts, where longtime incumbents Donna Reed Miller and Brian O'Neill face legitimate challengers. Most district council members will have an opponent in November's election, but with the exception of the 8th and the 10th the challenges are merely token.

Miller might set a record for most challengers-dispatched if she survives (as still seems likely) this round's three-headed challenge. She narrowly defeated three challengers in the primary, and she's routinely faced multi-candidate fields since taking office. The number of candidates willing to run against Miller speaks to some significant dissatisfaction in her leadership, but it plays into her hands as they split the "anti-Donna" vote. Her base sticks with her through thick and thin, and the three less-than-well-funded minor party candidates going after her this time will have virtually no chance to beat her unless they can set aside their differences and settle on a single challnger.

Republican Brian O'Neill has a different problem. He represents a district that's trending Democrat at a time when Republicans nationally aren't getting much love. The Daily News reports that O'Neill will outspend challenger Sean McAleer by more than 2-1, which suggests he's worried.

Other critical reading: Inga Saffron's report from yesterday's Planning Commission meeting. Members got their first look at the PennPraxis waterfront development plan, and they seemed underwhelmed. It's this whole revolutionary "street grid" concept that's catching the most flak. PlanPhilly also has an account.

Elsewhere, Democratic at-large City Council candidate Bill Green does a Q&A with Young Philly Politics, in why he proclaims: "Bikers are my core demographic." ... Pity the indicted State Senator trying to unload a Florida vacation house in a tough market. ... Metro takes a quick look at the low property tax bill on Fumo's Art Museum manse, which is listed here ...

Ok, you can't miss this. U.S. Senator Arlen Specter has a stand-up comedy routine, and I'm afraid to say that he gets a little raunchy in it. A sample joke, the target is his friend Bob Dole.

I called him last july 22nd on his 84th birthday and I said, 'Bob, congratualtions how do you feel?'

And he said, 'Arlen I feel like a teenager. But the problem is I can't find one.'

And he said, 'I just came down for breakfast and I said to elizabeth I just shaved and I feel 10 years younger. And Elizabeth frowned and said, 'why didn't you shave last night?'

Here's another one. He's talking about Moses and the 10 Commandments.

"For example when he came down from Mt. Sinai, he said there's good news and bad news. We got the number down to 10, but adultery is still there."

Lord preserve us. You can watch it yourself on Philly.com here.

Meet campaign aide Jamie Fleet, 28.
His old boss was Jonathan Saidel, the former City Controller who was going to run for mayor until U.S. Rep. Bob Brady got into the race, squeezing Saidel out. Fleet, without a missing a beat, left the Saidel campaign for the Brady one.

Meet spokeswoman Kate Philips, 33.
Her old boss was Gov. Rendell, who last February kindly granted her a leave from Harrisburg so she could handle reporter inquiries for the Brady campaign.
Now meet Jamie Fleet and Kate Philips - a couple soon to be wed.

Philips spilled the beans earlier today, showing reporters (including the Inquirer's Harrisburg-based Angela Couloumbis) the ring that Fleet gave her last night after dinner at Le Bec Fin.
Philips noted that Brady took credit for getting the pair together.
She also said that Brady called their match the only good thing to come of his mayoral campaign.

Never let it be said that Vern Anastasio shies away from a fight. The South Philly Democrat, fresh off a brutal May defeat at the hands of Councilman Frank DiCicco, appears to be contemplating a challenge against none other than Congressman Bob Brady.
We haven't yet spoken to Anastasio, but he's emailing supporters to let them know he's considering it.

Update: Brady didn't talk to us directly, but here's what he told press secretary Karen Warrington: "The congressman says, 'let him run, the more the merrier, join the party.'" Still no word from Anastasio.

------------------------------

CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT FORWARD.
October 19, 2007

Hello Friends:

First, I want to thank you, again, for joining Leslie and I in last Spring's primary. As an official member of GFOV (Good Friends of Vern) you helped us do about as well or better than any challenger against any elected incumbent in City Council. We sure did have fun.

I have some exciting news. I wanted to let you know that a small group of supporters and I are exploring an exciting opportunity -- getting involved with next Spring's Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District seat in Pennsylvania.

We're now exploring this opportunity as we gauge what it might take to stand for such an important post.

Why would I run?

(rest after the jump...)

Another great YouTube moment, posted first over at Metropolis. Democratic traffic court nominee Willie Singletary - he of the suspended license and $11,000 in moving violation fines - appeals to a crowd of bikers for their financial support. Singletary pretty much comes right out and tells them he'll be their friend if he's elected and they find themselves in his courtroom.

At 2 p.m. today, a City Council committee will take up a signature piece of Michael Nutter's proposed mayoral agenda: Allowing officers to stop, question and frisk people suspected of carrying concealed weapons.

It's the first official hearing on this contoversial proposal.

Nutter himself won't make it into Council chambers as he did last week to testify on two bills.
He is instead sending UPenn law professor Wendell Pritchett, one of his campaign policy advisers.

Others expected to chime in include City Controller Alan Butkovitz; Bob Eddis and John McNesby of the Fraternal Order of Police; and at least criminal justice professors.

More to come later.

No surprise here. Democratic Mayoral nominee Michael Nutter has said in the past that he's got a good relationship with new DC 47 president Cathy Scott. He'll need it. Scott and Nutter will soon be sitting on opposite sides of the table, trying to hammer out a new labor deal that works for DC 47's members and solidifies the city's shaky financial position. It's going to be a major challenge for the next mayor.

In his first address as mayor elect, Michael Nutter hearkened back to John F. Kennedy's call to public service and asked for the city's "best and brightest" to join his administration.

I want people to start thinking about changing their lives and changing their careers, to come into the government of the City of Philadelphia. Whether it's an executive loan program for experienced executives or also the rising stars in your company. We need your help in order to turn this government around, to change our policies and practices, to have new ideas and new ways of doing business in this city... We need your help and support to show us some of the things you do in your companies to drive value, to enhance shareholder value, to drive revenue up, cut costs and make your bottom line work.

I want you to start thinking about it. Whether it's time for you to make a change, take a detour. And I understand that public service may not be for everyone for the long haul. There is no higher calling, there is no better way to serve your fellow Philadelphians and people in the region then to consider coming into public service. I need your help and I'm asking for your support.

Nutter's remarks seem tailored to the audience, a large group of business leaders who'd asembled for a traditional post-election Committee of 70 breakfast. His speech was mellower than many he has delivered recently, and he spent plenty of time talking about what executives could do to help his administration.

Still, he was received like a rock star ("Bad to the Bone" was played as he entered the ballroom at the Bellevue Hotel where the event was held), and he drew plenty of applause in his 20-minute speech with lines like this: "We need to get over ourselves at a certain level, and stop being so envious of other places. ... We are Philadelphia, and we need to be proud of that."

More to come later.

Update: Want to apply. Nutter is taking resumes over at www.nutter2007.com.

When Mayor Street becomes Professor Street next year, guess who's going to join him behind the lectern as a guest speaker? None other than mayor-elect Michael Nutter, a guy who's locked horns with Street perhaps more than any other public figure in the city. In an interview this morning (which you can read all about in Sunday's Inquirer), Nutter said that Street asked him to speak to his class, and Nutter quickly agreed. "I think that'd probably be one of the most well-attended classes that he gives," Nutter said.

The mayor-elect also praised Street for moving quickly to set up transition meetings.

"He wants things to be as smooth as possible and I greatly appreciate that," Nutter said. "We’re two very deeply passionate caring public servants, and from time to time we might have a difference of opinion about some public policy sisues. It’s not personal. And I think Mayor Street wants to make sure that the city of Philadelphia ... functions and operates well after his term is up."

So far, Michael Nutter is getting what he asked for: Resumes.

Lots of them.

Nutter said this morning during a speech at Drexel University that he had received more than 1,000 resumes. Spokeswoman Melanie Johnson put a finer point on it: It's actually 1,119.

Nutter, who generally speaks without notes, was as jovial and relaxed as ever. Upon receiving a gift that was clock, he poked fun at himself for being a few minutes late to the event, saying, "Woody Allen really was correct: Apparently 85 percent of life is just showing up."

Also worth noting: He revealed that he actually got about one hour's worth of sleep Election Night. Seems he was having too good of a time at what he called "one of the best parties I've ever been to."

Sources say Nutter's choice for police commissioner is Charles H. Ramsey, who left his job as the top cop in the nation's capital last January, when a new mayor took office there.
Ramsey led a police force about two-thirds the size of Philly's.
Nutter is expected to make the announcement official in 50 minutes, at the YMCA on Chestnut Street and 51st Street.

It can't be easy being Michael Nutter (i.e., the Ethics Guy). He's about to become the first mayor to limit contributions to his inaugural party fund.
Legally, there are no restrictions concerning money raised for the swearing-in festivities.

The fund will be managed by an inaugural committee, which is being formed, Nutter said Friday. It will function as a nonprofit organization, and not a political action committee, which means it is not subject to the city's campaign-finance limits.

That means that legally, donations of any size - $50,000, $100,000, $1 million should he get really lucky - are acceptable.

But ethically . . . Nutter won't allow it.

"We are being consistent with what we did during the course of the mayor's race, even though the law does not apply," he said. He talked about how the spirit of the law was to reduce the overall impact of individual and business contributions.

The bottom line: If you want to support Nutter's inaugural fete, you can give up to $5,000 if you are an individual, or $20,000 if you are a political committee. Same old rules.

So where's the party going to be?

"I'm not on the site selection committee," Nutter said. "There are a whole group of people working on that. They will figure out a real good location, what food to have, which band to pick."

It was all hugs and kisses at this afternoon's annual hospitality luncheon - starting with who hosted the event.

Long coordinated by the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for the first time joined in as a co-sponsor, which seemed a visible message that the sometimes-feuding organizations will try harder to play nice together.

That message was also underlined when Nick DeBenedictis, the chairman of the PCVB, and Buck Riley, chairman of the Convention Center, took the stage together for a dual presentation that was preceded by The O'Jays song, "Love Train."

Mayor-Elect Michael Nutter took to the stage as a different song played: "A Beautiful Day" by U2, presumably complimenting his new slogan (It's a New Day. It's a New Way).

While Nutter sounded all the right chords about "regionalism" and "working together," he also took time to praise Mayor Street, who was seated at the table with him and had talked a few moments before. With Nutter's prompting, about half the ballroom audience stood to honor the outgoing mayor. (And in case you're wondering, the song Street took the stage to: "Oh Happy Day.")

Or simply: Oh - no!
The Philly Board of Elections has just made it official - finally.
City Councilman Jack Kelly will return to Council in January. He beat David Oh by 122 votes.
That's the final count.

Mayor-elect Michael Nutter is expected to name Clarence D. Armbrister, senior executive at Temple University and a former city treasurer, as his chief of staff this afternoon.

A press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. in City Hall.

At Temple, Armbrister is widely regarded as a highly capable and well-liked administrator. He was hired by former Temple President David Adamany in 2003, and promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer on Jan. 1 of this year by new Temple President Ann Weaver Hart. Armbrister has oversight over virtually all non-academic university operations.
Before joining Temple in 2003, Armbrister was director of UBS PaineWebber’s Municipal Securities Group in Philadelphia.

His public-sector experience includes stints as managing director of the School District of Philadelphia and city treasurer under then-Mayor Ed Rendell. His wife Denise McGregor Armbrister, is a member of the School Reform Commission.

Nutter spokeswoman Melanie Johnson declined comment.

In choosing Armbrister, Nutter again filled a high-level position with someone who is outside his inner circle and less known for his city political connections than his professional qualificiations.

Nutter’s two other picks to date include former Washington Police Chief Chuck Ramsey, who will become Philadelphia’s police commissioner, and Rob Dubow, a former city budget director who will resign as head of the state agency that monitors city spending to become Nutter’s finance director.

Well, that's three jobs done.

Rob Dubow, finance director. Chuck Ramsey, police commissioner. And as of a few minutes ago, Clarence Armbrister, chief of staff.

But there are still hundreds of jobs for Michael Nutter to fill, and he has received close to 3,000 resumes to help him choose.

Some of the work, though, will be done by Armbrister, Nutter said in an interview after announcing his new top aide at today's press conference.

Will he be an energetic, everywhere-man like Rendell's David L. Cohen? Or a behind-the-scenes master like Street's Joyce Wilkerson?

Nutter's response: "I expect that when public servants get a call from the chief of staff, they should respond like they're getting a call from me," Nutter said.

Sixteen years ago, he pushed through the legislation to create the agency. Now he wants to run it.

The who is former state House Speaker Robert W. O'Donnell. And the what is the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the state agency charged with monitoring Philadelphia's finances.

Rob Dubow, the agency's executive director, will leave at the end of this month to become city finance director under Mayor-elect Michael Nutter.

O'Donnell - who these days is a lobbyist by profession - is lobbying for his job.

"I'm extremely hopeful about the Nutter administration," O'Donnell said. "But I really think the city is on the verge of another financial crisis, and I think PICA will play a big role."

He described his efforts as "preliminary" at this point, and said he wasn't sure if it was a "doable deal."

If it doesn't work out, he said, "I'm still a supporter of Nutter, and I'll get through the night."

This intruiging op-ed in yesterday's Inquirer is generating a good bit of discussion in City Hall and elsewhere. In it, mayor-elect Michael Nutter rides to the defense of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, who'd been derided in an earlier Inquirer editorial for, among other things, having a legislative record "thinner than Kate Moss." Ouch. Prompting the Inquirer editorial was recent word that a young doctor named Keith Leaphart who plans to challenge Brady is lining up big financial support.

Over at Young Philly Politics, they're wondering why Nutter would so publicly have Brady's back, and they're asking similar questions at the Next Mayor.

Heard in the Hall hears that Brady asked Nutter to write the op-ed, and Nutter acquiesced. The letter is bound to make some Nutter supporters uncomfortable, or at least those who are heavily invested in his "New Day" message. As Democratic Party Chairman, Brady doesn't exactly represent a new day, and his pro-patronage record wouldn't appear to match up real well with Nutter's ethics-first approach either.

But consider the other side. Brady bent over backwards following his defeat in the mayoral primary, rallying the party behind Nutter. And Brady is now chairman of a House committee, which will likely help him direct more federal money to Philadelphia. Plus, he's the city's resident labor mediator, and given the contract negotiations Nutter will face immediately after taking office, he could be a real asset to the next mayor.

The mayor elect's got a lot on his plate, and he seems to have concluded there's little to be gained in snubbing a party chairman who's had his back since the primary.

The weekend that Pennsylvania politicos have been awaiting all year finally arrived, with less intrigue than last year but as much liquor as ever.

Largely gathered under one roof - New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel - the annual schmoozefest known as the Pennsylvania Society got off to its usual start Friday night, complete with at least one stumblng figure carrying a bottle of eggnog down East 49th Street, outside the hotel, in the wee hours of the night.

But there was no drama like last year when Bob Brady suddenly surfaced in the hotel lobby as proof he was serious about joining the five-man race for mayor, while the then-underdog and now Mayor-elect Michael Nutter drew nary a crowd.

Last night, though, mixmaster Mike was mixing it up on the dance floor - arms out, hips grooving - at the reception sponsored by Local 98, whose leader John Dougherty is hardly known to be his best friend. Meanwhile, Nutter's two-man plainclothes security detail stood at the edge of the dance floor prepared for potential trouble. It was not something Nutter had to deal with when he was here before as a mere City Councilman.

Reprinted from today's print edition...

Digital eyebrows jumped when Mayor-elect Michael Nutter wrote an Inquirer opinion piece last week defending the congressional record and Democratic Party leadership of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady.

Did it signal that Nutter wasn't interested in reforming the city Democratic Party? Had he cut some deal with Brady? Those and other questions were raised at Young Philly Politics, a discussion blog favored by progressives who would like to see big changes in the city Democratic Party.

So how about it, mayor-elect?

"Reforming the party is a priority for me, and I don't think people should try to read any tea leaves or read too much into the letter," Nutter said Thursday from New York, where he was attending the annual Pennsylvania Society political pow-wow.

The former President is expected to speak at a fundraiser for his wife at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the National Constitution Center.

Mayor Street is also expected to attend, in what will be one of his last gigs on a somewhat national stage as Philadelphia mayor.

The days are quickly going.

Street has not been couped up in his office, though.

Here's a look at today's calendar.

EVENT: Mayor Street will offer remarks and present a ceremonial ReStore Corridors check to the Hispanic Association of Contractor and Enteprises (HACE). TIME: 11:00 a.m. LOCATION: El Centro de Oro, 2708 N. 5th Street

EVENT: Mayor Street will announce this year’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display.
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Mayor’s Reception Room 202

EVENT: Mayor Street will offer remarks at the Keep Philadelphia Beautiful Token of Appreciation Event.
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Mayor’s Reception Room 202

EVENT: Mayor Street will offer remarks opening of the City’s 11th Curfew Center.
TIME: 5:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Ken Crest Services, 901 E. Ontario Street

EVENT: Mayor Street will offer remarks at a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton featuring former President William Clinton.
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street

One of Mayor Street's favorite nonprofits, Philadelphia Safe and Sound, announced an interesting pick today for its latest board member.

That person is Michael Pearson, president of a company named Union Packaging. According to the press release, the company "manufactures folding cartons in FDA regulated packaging industries. It is one of the fastest growing minority-owned packaging companies in the U.S."

But it's not Pearson's job that's so interesting. It's his position as a co-finance chair of Mayor-elect Michael Nutter's campaign committee.

Nutter is no big fan of Safe and Sound, mostly because the nonprofit has tight ties to Street's wife, who at one time was its president. And for the last few months, Street has been working quietly but assiduously to transfer tens of million of city dollars there, to pay for youth-prevention programs.

That did not make Nutter happen, who told the Inquirer in June: "The next mayor should have the opportunity to structure the government as he wants to and should not be faced with a significant loss of general-fund dollars shipped off to organizations not within the control or oversight of the city government."

Is Safe and Sound trying to get on Nutter's good side?

Condolences to two Philadelphia state representatives - former Speaker John Perzel and Jewel Williams - who lost their mothers recently.

Word of their passing was announced on the House floor earlier today.

Has Michael Nutter made his first patronage hire?

To fill the position of "special assistant," the Mayor-elect turned to Jordan Schwartz - son of U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz. Her membership on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in Washington is probably something not lost on the man about to become mayor.

Nutter and the congresswoman go way back, as he pointed out. Schwartz, for instance, first ran for a seat in the Pennsylvania state legislature in 1990, a year before Nutter won his first election as City Councilman. Jordan, now 28, was 11 years old.

Jordan also interned for Nutter in his Council office about five years ago. "I've known him a long time," Nutter said.

His decision to hire Jordan also speaks to Nutter's recognition of an important base of his support: young reformers. Jordan is the former state director of the Pennsylvania Center for Progressive Leadership, a nonprofit that trains progressive politicos how to be political leaders. It operates programs in four other states.

What does his new job entail? "He travels with me, follows up on anything that happens in the course of the day or evening."

Philadelphia magazine editor Larry Platt, who had been weighing a challenge to U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, has decided journalism is better than politics.

What helped him make that decision? Attending last week's Pennyslvania Society weekend at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

"After being a prospective candidate for two days at PA Society last weekend," he said in an email sent to his staff, "I was so sick of my own voice, so tired of hearing me talk about me, that I realized this life change wasn't for me. When you're a journalist, I realized, you're interested in hearing and conveying other peoples' stories. When you're obsessed with your own story, you create your own little echo chamber inside your head. It's not fun."

Fun, after all, is what it's all about.

Mayor-elect Nutter and his new managing director, Camille Barnett, haven't worked together yet, but there's ample evidence they're already on the same page on perhaps the city's most pressing problem: crime.

Nutter, of course, recently selected Charles Ramsey as the city's next police commissioner. Nine years ago, Barnett did exactly the same thing, hiring Ramsey away from Chicago's police force to lead the department in Washington, D.C., where Barnett was chief management officer.

"He was a great choice for D.C., and seeing him here made me think Nutter knew what he was doing," said Barnett, who went to Chicago in 1998 with a member of the city's control board to woo Ramsey.

Though their paths quickly diverged (Barnett left D.C. within a year of Ramsey's arrival) and Ramsey didn't report directly to Barnett, they worked together frequently.

According to Philadelphia's charter, the police commissioner's boss is technically the managing director. How would Ramsey feel about working directly for Barnett?

"I don't know what Mayor-elect Nutter's setup is going to be, but I don't have a problem with that," Ramsey said. "We've got a very good relationship."

That doesn't mean Ramsey wasn't stunned when he learned Barnett would join him in Nutter's administration.

"You should have seen his expression when he saw me the first time in Philadelphia," Barnett said.

Mayor-elect Michael Nutter last week wholeheartedly threw his support behind Hillary Clinton in next year's presidential race.
"Philadelphia, we need a friend in the White House," he said at an Electric Factory fund-raiser for the New York senator, before a crowd of about 1,000 people - including former President Bill Clinton.

That might be.

But several months earlier, Nutter left the distinct impression that Philadelphia might need a different friend.

At a mayoral forum at Central High School in Philadelphia last February, each of the five Democrats running in the primary was asked to predict the next president.

Nutter's answer: "I'll go out on a limb. Sen. [Barack] Obama." His response triggered a round of applause and whoops from the young audience.

Of course, that was before the Illinois senator distributed an e-mail to the supporters of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, one of Nutter's rivals in the race, asking them to contribute to Fattah's campaign committee.

Asked last week about why it was Obama then and Clinton now, Nutter said: "That was during the election campaign, and I certainly wish him well. I wish him the best. That's what campaigns are about. They evolve over time."

It seems there will be at least one holdover from the Street administration: Chief Information Officer Terry Phillis.

The city's so-called techology chief has confirmed that he was approached two weeks ago by members of Mayor-elect Michael Nutter's transition team, who "asked me if I would stay on and be part of the Nutter administration."

He says he quickly answered yes. "I had been getting some calls about some other opportunities," Phillis said, "but I really didn't want to do that. I really like what I'm doing."

Phillis was named CIO in August 2006, replacing Dianah Neff, Street's hand-picked and well paid technology chief who left under a cloud because of her role in the failed water billing system project. He was hired as Neff's deputy the year before.

Phillis has his own difficulties ahead, namely dealing with Wireless Philadelphia, which has been marred by Earthlink's rethinking of its business strategy, i.e., wanting to get out of the municipal wireless business. "The experience with Earthlink hasn't been exactly wonderful to this point," he said. "We'll continue on, because we view it as a city asset. I don't know what the future will bring."

Who else will Nutter keep? Stay tuned.

Sharif Street - former Council candidate, real estate attorney, and the son of former Mayor Street - was the beneficiary of one of his father's last-minute flurry of appointments. His post? A seat on the Zoning Code Commission, which is rewriting the city's zoning code. Street had five slots to fill on the commission, but he let them languish empty for months. Team Nutter clearly expected to fill the posts itself. No word yet on whether or not Sharif Street was the only new member named, but we'll find out shortly.

Sharif Street confirmed the appointment himself following this morning's inauguration of Mayor Nutter. What'd he think of the speech? He said it was solid, and he appreciated the respect Nutter paid to former Mayors Street and Rendell.

With the notable exception of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, there haven't been a lot of local pols lining up to support Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid. That could change, of course, if Obama continues to challenge Hillary Clinton for front-runner status, but until now most local politicians have either backed Clinton (a la Mayor Nutter and U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwarz) or stayed on the sidelines.

But State Rep. Tony Payton, who beat the party endorsed candidate to become the youngest representative in Harrisburg, is pulling for Obama, and even went to campaign for him in New Hampshire. Still, we suspect this photo does Payton more good than Obama. How long until it's hanging on the wall of his office?

Update: As noted in the comments, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (who represents Bucks County and a pair of wards in Northeast Philadelphia) is also backing Obama.

Alan Butkovitz may be just a local government official - Philadelphia's city controller - but that hardly seems to limit him from trying to involve himself in national and world affairs.
Namely, the U.S. race for president.

From a press release just issued by his office:

Today, City Controller Alan Butkovitz called upon the Republican and Democratic Presidential Candidates, the Chairs of both the Democratic and Republican parties, and the hosts of future scheduled presidential debates, to bring up in the debate discussion of the ongoing tragedy of the genocide in Sudan.

To read a draft of the Butkovitz letter:

Mayor Nutter appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews tonight. Matthews, of course, is a Philly native, and he served as moderator for a debate during the mayoral primary. He seems to have taken a shine to Nutter, who was asked for his thoughts on the presidential elections. No video available yet, but you can read the transcript after the jump.

Nutter endorsed Sen. Clinton a few weeks ago, and he noted that in the interview. Nutter appeared to support Sen. Obama during the mayoral primary last year, but that was before Obama lent his support to Nutter mayoral rival Rep. Chaka Fattah.

Back to the interview. Matthews closed the segment by wishing Nutter and the city well.

"Good luck in your term as mayor of Philadelphia. We're all rooting for you. Anybody that gives thought or caring to Philadelphia wants you to make it, sir."

Click below for the full transcript.

Dianne Reed has found a new life after City Hall.

Mayor John Street's budget director, Reed starts Monday as executive director of CADE, an anti-violence nonprofit that does most of its work in the schools.

"The reason I'm interested in it is I think this is the right kind of thing for the corporate world to be supporting," Reed said, saying part of her job will be to further open up the wallets of the region's corporate leaders.

She also will busy herself expanding CADE's board, including the possible addition of Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey.

Speaking of new jobs, David Glancey has one, too.

Glancey, past chairman of the Board of Revision of Taxes, is taking on part-time employment at the University of Pennsylvania. His title will be director of special projects in the office of governmental affairs and community relations, where he will be a liaison with city regulatory agencies, and will also work on Penn's expansion plans.
"I think it's a good fit," he said.

But he has no interest in doing the job full-time. "I'm a retiree, what can I tell you?"

After a delayed start because of the sudden death of her husband, new City Managing Director Camille Barnett has officially begun her job today.

A few minutes ago, she breezed down a hallway in City Hall on her way into Room 221 to attend a Cabinet meeting in the mayor's office.

Barnett is scheduled to be sworn into office at 4:15 p.m. today, along with new city Commerce Director Andy Altman.

Also today, Nutter is expected to formally name Lori Shorr as his education director, as the Inquirer reported a few weeks ago.

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.

Let's call this one, "Stand by Your Man."

Issued by Dougherty for Senate 2008, the press release sort of speaks for itself:

Philadelphia Building Trades tonight unanimously endorsed IBEW Local 98 Business Manager John J. Dougherty for Pennsylvania's 1st District Senate seat. Dougherty is running against incumbent Senator Vince Fumo and community activist Anne Dicker. The Pennsylvania Primary is set for April 22nd.

"I am deeply gratified by the Building Trades' unanimous endorsement of my candidacy," said Dougherty. "I want to sincerely thank all of my union brothers and sisters for their support and belief in me. I am running to protect working families in Philadelphia. I am running to restore people's trust in their government. And I am running to create more economic development opportunities and improve the quality of life for every resident of the 1st District. I am in it to win it and this important endorsement is a great springboard for a successful campaign."

Looks like U.S. Rep. Bob Brady is well on his way to another re-election victory.
Keith Leaphart, the 32-year-old physician who formed an exploratory committee to run against the five-term congressman in the April 22 primary, has called it quits.

"Yes, he's not running," Leaphart ally Tracy Hardy confirmed Friday.

With financial support from two of the region's biggest benefactors - H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest and Peter L. Buttenwieser - Leaphart drew serious attention as someone well-positioned to take on Brady. The 20-year-plus chairman of the Democratic City Committee, Brady is the only white House member representing a mostly black district. Leaphart is African American.

Alas, this race is not to be.

"Being he is a newly married man, with a new infant baby," Hardy said, "it all came at him and was more than he anticipated."

Hardy said he was unsure how much money Leaphart raised and what would happen to excess funds.

In anticipation of Mayor Nutter's budget speech Thursday, City Council just released its hearing schedule for the city's various departments, etc.
The season kicks off Feb. 26, and lasts through April 29.
The fiscal 2009 budget must be approved by May 31.
Here's a look at the hearing schedule.

From The Inquirer’s John Shiffman, who recently transferred to our DC bureau:
Congressman Bob Brady, demonstrating his muscle as chair of the House Administration Committee, is expected to announce tomorrow that he will bring a handful of homeland security insiders FROM Washington TO Philadelphia next week for a local security summit.

Brady wants city leaders here to learn what he has learned about protecting the U.S. Capitol, and try to apply it locally.

Expected speakers include the chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, Phillip D. Morse, and a senior Pentagon homeland security official, Steven Calvery. The latter is director of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency and is a former Secret Service supervisor of details that protected Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

They are scheduled to meet with roughly 20 community leaders from Philadelphia, including Mayor Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, behind closed doors Tuesday at the University of Pennsylvania.

There's a new ward leader in town.

Marcia Wilkof was elected Monday night to replace Terry Gillen as leader of the 30th Ward, which covers Center City and part of South Philadelphia.

Gillen stepped down last month because the City Charter prohibits her, like other city employees, from being a ward leader while working full-time on the city payroll. And that's exactly what Gillen is now doing, as Mayor Nutter's senior adviser on economic development.

Wilcox, a private consultant on organization development, also has ties to Nutter; she was one of his campaign volunteers.

"Our job as a ward committee is to turn out the Democratic vote, and this is an incredibly important election on a variety of fronts," Wilkof said of the April 22 primary. "We will work very hard on voter registration and to turn out the vote, and I'm excited to do it."

Wilkof previously served as a committeeperson for nearly 18 years, as well as the 30th Ward treasurer.

From Inquirer Harrisburg reporter Angela Couloumbis:
Philly, stop the bickering, get your act together, build your casinos and start raking over the cash – or else.

That’s the message Rep. Robert W. Godshall (R., Montgomery) wants to send through a bill he intends to introduce later this week. The legislation would, effectively, deny Philadelphia the right to receive funds from that big pot of money containing revenues from newly-built casinos around the state. Those funds are earmarked for every municipality to help offset rising property taxes -- although in Philly’s case, the money would be used to help reduce its punishing wage tax.

Godshall swears he’s not “a Philly-basher,” but he is fed up with the ongoing feuding that has delayed construction of the two casinos on Philadelphia’s waterfront.

“I am not a Philadelphia-basher, never have been,” Godshall said in an interview today. “But Philadelphia is not contributing anything, and yet they’re siphoning off money … And that’s hurting the people in my school district and people in other school districts across the state.”

Fair or not, Godshall’s bill will likely face a rough ride in the legislature. The legislation would be referred to the House’s Gaming Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. Harold James – a Democrat from Philadelphia. At some point, the bill would also have to get a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. Dwight Evans – a Democrat from Philly.

And if, somehow, it managed to survive those committees and make it to the House floor, it would likely face stiff opposition from other high-ranking lawmakers from Philadelphia, including Speaker Dennis O’Brien (R., Philadelphia).

That’s not going to stop Godshall from playing tough.

“There are no ulterior motives,” he said of his bill. “But I get yelled at every day by someone when it pertains to their property taxes. Something needs to be done.”

From Inquirer Harrisburg reporter Angela Couloumbis:

Let it be known, for the record, that Sen. Vince Fumo has a single word to describe a proposal circulating in the Capitol to cut Philadelphia out of its share of casino revenue: asinine.

The Democrat from Philadelphia is taking aim at a proposal being pushed by Rep. Robert W. Godshall (R., Montgomery), who is fed up with the feuding in the city that has held up construction of its two waterfront casinos.

Godshall believes that if Philadelphia can’t get its act together and start contributing casino revenues, it shouldn’t be entitled to money from that pot. Under the state’s law legalizing slots parlors, every municipality will receive funds from casino revenues to help offset rising property taxes. (In Philadelphia’s case, the money would be used to lower the wage tax).

Through his spokesman, Gary Tuma, Fumo pointed out that there are only 14 standalone slots parlors approved in for Pennsylvania – and that under Godshall’s logic, only those municipalities hosting a casino should be eligible for casino revenue.

In that case, Tuma pointed out, “we were wondering whether residents in Rep. Godshall’s district shouldn’t be getting money either,” since Montgomery County isn’t playing host to any of the state’s 14 parlors.

“Of course,” Tuma added, “Senator Fumo would be happy to introduce legislation to transfer one of [Philadelphia’s] two licenses into his district.”

The Democratic primary is coming to Pennsylvania. The view from City Hall will be fascinating. Mayor Nutter has of course already endorsed Sen. Clinton. Now, though, we'll get to see what that actually means. Will Nutter go to the mat for a candidate who may not be the choice of a majority of city residents? Will he spend his early political capital on a candidate who remains - despite her big wins last night - at least something of an underdog. It'll be fascinating to see.

In the 1990s, Rendell's relationship with President Clinton was one of the best things the city had going for it. Federal money poured into town. Nutter, obviously, would like to reprise that relationship and if Sen. Clinton wins in Pennsylvania she will owe him big time. Philadelphia and its suburbs are likely to be Obama territory, and Nutter is one of the best hopes Clinton has for limiting the Illinois senator's showing in the region. Of course, if the country ends up with a President Obama instead, Mayor Nutter might not be on the White House Christmas card list.

Nonetheless, the mayor is holding firm for Clinton so far. As he told the Daily News last week: "When I endorse someone, when I say I'm supporting someone, I maintain my support," Nutter said.

Oh, and Register of Wills (and uncommited superdelegate) Ron Donatucci? Get ready to be wooed.

Yesterday, we pondered what Mayor Nutter's support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would look like over the next few weeks. The answer? Robust. Nutter said yesterday he would back Clinton to the hilt. Although some African American elected officials who've backed Clinton have been pressured by their consituents to support Barack Obama instead, the consensus among local political observers is that Nutter likely won't be dinged in the least for endorsing Clinton.

The safest course, naturally, is to sit the contest out. But that's not Nutter's style. And from all accounts he is a huge Clinton fan. Heard in the Hall was told Nutter whooped it up louder than anyone Tuesday night as Clinton supporters watched the election results come in at Finnigans Wake in Northern Liberties.

Mayor Nutter came out shooting today in response to an Obama campaign memo that seeks to deemphasize the importance of winning just Pennsylvania, with a total of 10 primary state elections remaining.

“It’s one of the silliest things I’ve seen in recent times,” Nutter said of the memo during a conference call with reporters this morning. The call was coordinated by the Clinton campaign, and also included Gov. Rendell.

Nobody else talked much about the memo directly, but it seemed to weigh on the mayor's mind.

“I question its seriousness and authenticity for that matter,” Nutter said. “Any suggestion that Pennsylvania is one of a bunch of states, whatever suggestion they are trying to convey, is quite silly.”

And for good measure, he said: “If someone on my staff wrote that, I’d fire them.”

Stu Bykofsky has joined the ranks of retired committeemen.

The well-known Daily News columnist quietly gave up the elected post - which established him as an official in Philadelphia's Democratic Party - after last November's mayoral election.

Although Daily News Editor Michael Days gave Bykofsky his blessing to run for the position back in May 2006, Days "blew a sign of relief," Bykofsky said, when he agreed to resign. "I could see pain in his eyes," he said. "So I said, would you be happier if I weren't doing this?"

The answer was clear.

The renegade columnist said nobody called to complain about his dual positions. But there were apparently some internal newsroom complaints. Bykofsky chalked it up to "some jealous fool here, or someone consumed with the ideas of ethics, with a capital E."

In his columns, Bykofsky often wrote about his committeeman experiences, beginning with his decision to run for the job.

By the way, throughout his two-year tenure, he declined to accept any Election Day "street money." Why? "It didn't feel right," he said.

His successor - in Center City's 5th Ward, 9th Division - is already in place: A health-care consultant named Gregory Walker.

So that's that. He's officially retired. "By the way," he said, "there's no pension."

Barack Obama held a brief and private meeting with a small group of Philadelphia labor leaders this morning, following his speech on America's racial divide at the National Constitution Center.

Among those present: John Dougherty, head of Local 98 of the electricans' union - and also a candidate for office.

Sitting at lunch later at the Marathon Grille on Chestnut Street, Dougherty recounted part of his exchange with the Democratic presidential candidate:

"I hear you're running for state Senate," Obama told him.

Yes, replied Dougherty.

Then Obama - who got his start as a state senator from Illinois - quipped: "That's not a bad place to start."

First Ken Snyder signed on to become a media consultant for Larry Farnese.

And now, as of Monday, Brian Abernathy will be on board as well, handling policy and public relations matters for the 1st district state senate candidate.

What do Snyder and Abernathy have in common? Both have ties to state Sen. Vincent Fumo.

The South Philadelphia senator last week announced he would not seek to retain his seat in the April 22 primary, leaving Farnese to duke it out with electrician John Dougherty and political activist Anne Dicker.

Dougherty allies had thought all along that Farnese got into the race as a placeholder of sorts for Fumo.

Snyder's and Abernathy's latest moves would appear to strengthen that idea.

But Abernathy, an aide to Fumo supporter City Councilman Frank DiCicco, says A plus B does not always equal C.

"Nothing should be read into that," said Abernathy, who is taking a leave from DiCicco's office beginning Monday and through April 28. He said he believes DiCicco and another Fumo ally, Councilman Jim Kenney, "will end up endorsing Larry," though he does not profess to know what Fumo's own intent is.

As for his decision to help Farnese, Abernathy said: "I respect Larry and what he wants to bring to Harrisburg. Normally, I would not take a leave for a candidate, but I think this race is very important. I don't think John Dougherty is the right guy for the seat.... Anne is a nice person, I appreciate her ideals, but she has not proven to me or a lot of folks that she has built the coalition to get things done."

It's hardly Watergate, but there has reportedly been a burglary at the South Philadelphia campaign office of Christian DiCicco (read: state Sen. Vince Fumo), who is trying to unseat Pennsylvania state Rep. Bill Keller (read: electrical union leader John J. Dougherty) in next month's primary.

Police were on hand this morning, at 1616 E. Passyunk Ave., to eyeball a couch and 10 pictures that were slashed with a razor or other sharp-edged tool Sunday night.

Missing were a camera, some policy papers and internal poll data.

Not missing were a $500 radio, a flat-screen TV and two laptop computers.

"Obviously, we have our suspicions," said DiCicco friend Brian Abernathy, a legislative aide on leave from the office of City Councilman Frank DiCicco, Christian DiCicco's father. Abernathy was referring to the Dougherty camp, as this race is largely viewed as the latest battle between Fumo and Dougherty.

"We don't have proof of anything, but the fact that the most expensive item they stole was a polling memo... Well, we are comfortable making some assumptions," Abernathy said.

It's not clear how the perpetrator, or perpetrators, got in. There were no broken doors or windows.

Update: The Dougherty campaign responds. "Obviously, we had no involvement. We had no knowledge of anyone associated with this campaign participating in this alleged break-in," said Dougherty spokesman Frank Keel. "This kindof stuff should not happen in this or any political campaign. There is no place for it."

Electricians' union leader John Dougherty may have a lesbian daughter.

And political organizer Anne Dicker may be a self-described bisexual woman.

But it was straight-man Larry Farnese who won the endorsement tonight of the Liberty City Democratic Club, an organization of gay and lesbian activists, for the bid to succeed state Sen. Vincent Fumo in the First Senate District. The primary is April 22.

In addition, the political organization also endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton over Barack Obama for president.

With three weeks to go before Pennsylvania's April 22 primary, campaign fatigue may have set in with some Philadelphians - but not those in City Hall.
In a meeting scheduled for today, the recently formed Philadelphia Primary Media Task Force will convene to discuss how to best take advantage of an opportunity presented.

That is: how to make Philadelphia shine before the eyes of hundreds of political journalists descending here and elsewhere in the state.

Among those leading the effort are Mayor Nutter's spokesman, Doug Oliver, and City Representative Melanie Johnson. Others include officials from the state, the hotel industry, and Philadelphia tourism organizations.

"We wanted to make sure we are thinking the same way, that we have the same message," Johnson said. "So far, it's paid off."

Strategies include making life easier for visiting reporters by providing a one-stop shopping Web site (phillyprimary.com) with information on satellite-truck parking and portable toilets, and a list of suggested locations for stand-up news shots, such as LOVE Park and Independence Hall.

There's also a media reception in the works for the night before the big debate between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, which is April 16 at the National Constitution Center.

Of course, not everything can be controlled.

Remember the last time so much political attention was showered on Philadelphia in this race? It was in October, the night of a televised debate of Democratic presidential contenders at Drexel University.

They emerged to see police helicopters and divers searching the Schuylkill for a suspect in the shooting of three civilians and an officer.

From diligent Inquirer reporter Joseph A. Gambardello:

John Dougherty’s campaign has released polling data showing the labor union honcho leading his two opponents in the Democratic primary race for the state Senate seat Vince Fumo will vacate later this year.

But it also shows that even more voters are undecided — 37 percent — than support Dougherty with the primary just three weeks away.

Dougherty, in an email today to supporters, says the survey conducted March 25-26 shows him leading with 31 percent to a "healthy" 18 percent for grassroots activist Anne Dicker and 14 percent for Center City lawyer Larry Farnese, whose campaign has attracted the support of Fumo’s allies since the senator decided not to seek re-election.

A footnote to the survey points out that a poll in February showed Fumo leading the race with 28 percent. The research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates says the latest results indicate that Johnny Doc has "clearly gained" more of Fumo’s supporters than the other two candidates in the race.

"… these results suggest that the primary is now Dougherty’s to lose," the candidate’s email quotes the research firm as reporting.

All this polling seems to have given a real confidence boost to Dougherty - so much so that the email emphasizes Doc's political strengths, but implies that he held this office before. He hasn't, and neither have his opponents.

Says the email: "We have got to get this violence situation under control, and as such we cannot afford to send a freshman Senator to Harrisburg."

Hmm. But with Fumo's retirement, that's the only option voters have.

Named "Get it Done," a new television ad for Hillary Clinton is about to hit the airwaves. It features one celebrity attraction: Mayor Nutter.

"I know. You want to know why I'm supporting Hillary," Nutter starts out.

Indeed, a lot of people do, given his reformist message that sounds like Barack Obama's, and that he is an African American mayor in a heavily-populated African American city that appears to be leaning toward Barack Obama.

Nutter talked about his reasons for choosing Hillary a bit with the Inquirer last week.

Here is what he has got to say now.

The three-way race to succeed Sen. Vince Fumo is as much about the candidates in the race as it is about deep-seeded feuds between several of Philadelphia's powerbrokers. Primarily, it's about John Dougherty, one those three candidates, and Fumo, whose backers include City Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco.

From the Dougherty camp, here are two observations, courtesy spokesman Frank Keel.

1) Larry Farnese may claim a close bond with and the support of Kenney, but are they that close? Farnese spells Kenney's name wrong in his latest mailer.  It is a picture of Farnese walking with Kenney, with the text "Larry Farnese is endorsed by Jim Kenny."

2) In the latest Dougherty for Senate direct mail piece titled "Why Are Women Supporting John Dougherty for State Senate," one of the women quoted is Fran Price, activist in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. She states: "Our community needs a fighter in the State Senate. John has spent two decades working for children and all Philadelphia families. That is why I am voting for John Dougherty."

The punch line? Fran Price is Frank DiCicco's cousin. Her maiden name is DiCicco.

From Inquirer reporter Joseph A. Gambardello:

The state Supreme Court today denied state senate candidate John Dougherty’s bid to get challenger Larry Farnese’s name taken off the ballot.

Commonwealth Court Judge Rochelle Friedman initially denied Dougherty’s petition on March 7 and the higher court upheld her order today.

The Supreme Court said it would issue an opinion later.

How much do endorsements matter?

Considerably, it seems, given the passions that have come to define this presidential primary race.

State Rep. James Roebuck joined a group of a dozen-plus city and state lawmakers yesterday who announced their support ofBarack Obama at a press conference in City Hall. His name was not on the original press release reporters received publicizing the event, and so it was not included in this story today.

But in fact he did speak at the event. Also in attendance - though not noted in the story - were state Sen. Leanna Washington and state Rep. Tommy Blackwell.

From Inquirer reporter Joseph Gambardello:

Electricians union leader John J. Dougherty today picked up the endorsement of the Philadelphia Tribune in the Democratic primary for State Senator Vincent Fumo’s seat.

In announcing its support for Dougherty, the nation’s oldest African-American newspaper noted that it had been critical of Dougherty in the past on racial inclusion in his union and refusal to dislose the number of minorities in his local.

“For many readers, this will be a surprising choice,” the editorial said.

Still, the paper said, Dougherty has promised to increase the minority presence in his union and during his campaign has “made an effort to reach out to African Americans, particularly in the Point Breeze section of his district where many residents say they have been neglected for years.”

The paper also noted that Dougherty had won the support of some African American leaders, includings state Sen. Anthony Williams and Sheriff John Green.

“As an elected official, Dougherty can be held even more accountable for his actions than as a labor leader and we plan to do just that, the Tribune said.

Dougherty’s two opponents – Larry Farnese and Anne Dicker – have received the endorsements of the Inquirer and Daily News, respectively.

From Inquirer reporter Joseph A. Gambardello:

In the waning hours of the campaign, candidates John J. Dougherty and Anne Dicker are ganging up on Larry Farnese in the First District state Senate race.

Johnny Doc’s people are charging that allies of incumbent Sen. Vince Fumo are intimidating insiders and others who are supporting Doc and State Rep. Bill Keller in his race against Christian DiCicco, son of Fumocrat City Councilmember Frank DiCicco. Fumo, you may recall, has been supporting Farnese’s bid behind the scenes.

Dicker for her part is offering a history lesson. Here’s what she is saying in an email to supporters:

“In 1978, State Sen. Buddy Cianfrani was convicted of federal charges of racketeering, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice and was forced to give up his state Senate seat for a seat in jail. Buddy Cianfrani engineered that his protege and first-cousin, 35-year-old Vincent Fumo, replace him in a special election. It is widely understood that Cianfrani pulled the strings of the young Fumo from his jail cell.

“Now facing a 139-count indictment for mail fraud and obstruction of justice himself, Vincent Fumo has stepped down and is supporting Larry Farnese for state Senate. Although not a direct relative, Farnese's grandfather is closely linked with Vince Fumo. Many believe that the strings are firmly tied to the 39-year-old Farnese.”

The Dougherty campaign has been hammering the same theme for weeks now.

Brian Abernathy, a spokesman for Farnese, of course calls Doc’s charges false and rejects Dicker’s assertion. After all, Abernathy has noted, Farnese entered the race when Fumo was still in it and, by all indication, the front runner despite his legal troubles.

Abernathy also sees the two-front attack as a good, all things considered.

“I’m glad we’re being noticed,” he said.

Translation: The other guys must be worried about something.

A lawyer for Tommie St. Hill, a consultant to electricians union Local 98, told a city judge this afternoon that he was not the owner of a laptop on which he created a flyer attacking Mayor Nutter during last year's mayoral primary race.

So who was? St. Hill wouldn't say. Nor would his lawyer, Lewis Small. "That's something for another day," Small said.

But both men told reporters, after a contentious court hearing, that the laptop also did not belong to anyone affiliated with Local 98. "It has nothing to do with the IBEW," Small said, referring to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, which is led by state Senate candidate John J. Dougherty.

The ethics board has apparently been looking into whether the union created, produced or generated 125,000 of the flyers, which violated campaign finance law by not stating on them who paid for them.

A city official for nearly 30 years, John F. Street was fond of saying that he never lost an election.

Now he has.

On last Tuesday’s primary ballot, Philadelphia’s former mayor was one of 12 candidates from the First Congressional District vying to be elected as delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August.

Under Democratic Party rules, the district can send just seven delegates to the convention, which will be in Denver.

Officially, those seven may not be confirmed for weeks.

But what’s known now is that at least five of them will be supporters of Barack Obama, based on somewhat complicated arithmetic related to the percentage of the district voting for Obama.
What’s not complicated is that there’s no chance Street will be headed out West this summer.

For one thing, Street ran as a Hillary Rodham Clinton cdelegate in a district heavily backing Obama.

For another, he received 18,980 votes - fewer than any of his 11 competitors.

Translation: Street hasn't grown any more popular out of office than when he was in.