May 3–10, 2001

political notebook

Political Notebook

by Mary Frangipanni Patel

No Bedfellows

State Sen. Vincent Fumo is doing his own thing in the heated district attorney’s primary race between incumbent Lynne Abraham and challenger Alex Talmadge.

Fumo is not teaming up with U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah as he has done in past elections because he is supporting Abraham. Fattah came out last week for Talmadge.

But does that mean that Fumo is creating an alliance with Mayor John Street, who is also supporting Abraham?

Fumo — at odds with Street since supporting Marty Weinberg in the 1999 mayoral primary — now appears to be making nice to the mayor. Both showed up at a fundraiser Thursday night for Abraham hosted by Mark Segal and the Pride of Philadelphia Election Committee (POPEC).

"Sen. Fumo thinks Lynne is a good DA," said Fumo’s spokesperson Gary Tuma from Harrisburg. "That’s why he is supporting her. He will be giving her a five-figure contribution soon." He declined to discuss amounts.

At the POPEC event, Segal, who is president and founder of the gay and lesbian PAC, said POPEC was backing Abraham because of her longtime support for the gay community. "Her office is now helping to provide services to battered gay and lesbian spouses," said Segal.

"The District Attorney’s Office is not a toy," said Street to guests. "We do not want any novices here.

"We want [Abraham] to win and win big," Street added.

Abraham would have to win big so Street looks powerful. His nemesis — NAACP President Jerome Mondesire— set up Talmadge to run against Abraham. Word is that black leaders who are backing Talmadge don’t expect him to win but want to given Street a wake-up call to pay more attention to their community.

The Big Dance

U.S. Rep. and City Democratic Chairman Bob Brady blew off Ed Rendell’s gubernatorial $1,000-a-plate fundraiser at the Mayfair Hotel in D.C later that night to attend his own fundraiser and be with his own crowd even though he was on Rendell’s host committee.

Brady’s party was hosted by Democratic Women of Philadelphia and organized by president Angela Cinquino and treasurer Mary Frances Fogg at the Waterfall Room at Swan Caterers in South Philly.

The Geater with the Heater, Jerry Blavat, cruised in later to spin discs. He was invited by noted mob defense attorney Carmen Nasuti.

Brady and Charlie Bernard, his assistant at Democratic City Committee, talked strategy for Bernard’s run for the City Commissioner seat recently vacated by Alex Talmadge.

Mayor Street can appoint to fill the vacancy or wait until the next election in 2003. There are two City Commissioners aside from the Talmadge vacancy —Marge Tartaglione, who is chair, and Joe Duda, the lone Republican, are holding down the fort in City Hall. Despite talk that Talmadge’s seat should go to an African American, Bernard is getting support.

Mark Lopez arrived with his staff. He has a new life as the Director of Planning and Development for the Philadelphia Parking Authority. After a brief tenure as chief of staff to State Sen. Tina Tartaglione, Lopez was appointed by Mayor Street to this position. Lopez reports directly to Street on all matters.

Dems Get Down

Former Congressman Lucien Blackwell pounded his fist on the podium as he addressed the 15,000 Democrats that packed the Sheet Metal Union Hall Monday night for their annual spring fundraiser.

He praised Brady for his leadership and criticized some Democrats for making their own deals for the primary election and not following the straight ticket which includes District Attorney Lynne Abraham, City Controller Jonathan Saidel and state and local judicial candidates.

"Our Chairman Bob Brady is a great chairman!" declared Blackwell. "And he’s sick and tired of everyone doing their own thing and not supporting the endorsed ticket!"

Endorsements aside, the party welcomed all Democrats who paid $150 to benefit the party, such as Alex Talmadge who arrived with Jerry Mondesire and worked the room.

Talmadge has recently moved back into the Eighth District which prompted speculation that if he did not win the primary, he would run against Eighth District Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller.

Not so.

"I just moved back to my old neighborhood," said Talmadge. "I have no plans to run for City Council."

On election night, Talmadge plans to be at the Union Hall at 3801 Market St. and Abraham’s campaign has booked the ballroom at the Warwick Hotel.