Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz lapped up the limelight last Saturday at the Italian Market Festival on Ninth Street. Katz, along with Councilman Frank DiCiccoand various other celebrities, entertained the crowd in a charity competition by tossing pizza dough in the air and building a tower of Sorrento cheese sticks.

After throwing the cheese at the spectators, the contestants sang to their favorite Sinatra songs.

"Sam should be on the corner of Germantown and Chelten," observed Donald Carter, a board member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Log Cabin, a gay Republican organization. Carter, also a mentor at Action AIDS, watched Katz strut his stuff.

"That part of the city is a recovering area and represents a big swing vote, because a lot of black Democrats disapprove of John Street there," said Carter.

"It's all about fundraising now anyway," said Carter of Katz's numerous daily public appearances.

A large group calling themselves Democrats for Katz was there building support. Katz received significant support from Democrats in 1999 when he last ran against Street.

State Rep. Babette Josephs, who represents the Italian Market area, took a swipe at Katz while he was doing his little dance.

"What kind of judgment of people can he have if he chooses to be involved with business partners who are being prosecuted by the feds?" asked Josephs, who also expressed concern about the caliber of people Katz would appoint if elected.

She was referring to a lawsuit instigated by three of Katz's former business partners. The partners are alleging Katz was involved in an embezzlement scheme and that he misrepresented investment advice. One of Katz's former employees has already pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from an investment. Montgomery County officials cleared Katz in a criminal investigation. The civil case is still pending and the trial is set for March 2004. Katz has denied all charges.

When reached for comment, Katz said that he has a 30-year track record of doing business and that Josephs should not be concerned. He claimed that Josephs was just being partisan.

"I will be vindicated," said Katz of the civil lawsuit. "And I look forward to working with Babette."

Barring None?

The Philadelphia Bar Association and its chancellor, Audrey C. Talley, made great efforts to push the association’s recommended slate in last month’s primary election for local judges. Apparently, their efforts were rather successful.

There were 11 openings for Common Pleas Court judgeships and 22 candidates on the ballot. The association recommended 11 candidates. Only three winning candidates were not recommended by the association.

Those winning the primary will be in the general election. And because the 11 winning candidates are cross-filed as Democrats and Republicans they are guaranteed to win in the general election. It is no secret that the association often clashes with both political parties on the endorsement of judicial candidates. The parties prefer that the bar stay out of the recommendation business altogether and leave the politics to them. As long as state judges are elected, partisan politics will exist.

Chancellor Talley spent a lot of time educating the public on the association's ratings through various media venues. The association also offered a Voters' Guide to Judicial Elections on their website, www.philadelphiabar.org.

The association's judicial commission consists of 28 members who include judges, lawyers, non-lawyers and representatives from minority legal groups.

The commission investigates the candidates in great detail and reviews their trial experience, legal background, judicial temperament, mental and physical capabilities and community activities.

Those that receive an association recommendation wear it like a badge of honor while campaigning.

Now that the primary is over, the association is focusing its attention on the judicial retention vote.

This and That

The Breast Health Institute is sponsoring a Run for Your Life! 5K run/walk on Father’s Day, June 15, beginning at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and continuing down West River Drive. Funds raised will support the fights against both prostate and breast cancer. For information and to register, contact BHI at 215-735-3050. (City Paper and the city are just two of the many sponsors.)

The Human Rights Campaign will host a town meeting on Sat., June 7, at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., starting at 2 p.m. The agenda will include important issues affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Psychotherapist

Charles Bittner and HRC Regional Director Michael Crawford will moderate. Call Doug Shaps at 215-842-0343 for more information.