It’s a good time to be a new kid on the block. Republican City Councilman at-large-elect Jack Kelly was the beneficiary of a fundraiser at the Society Hill home of Michael Cibik last Monday night. Cibik, an attorney who is on the board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, supported Republican Jamie McDermott, who ran and lost against Kelly in the general election.

Most Democrats on Council are pretty much split; there are Mayor John Street's supporters and those aligned with State Sen. Vincent Fumo. But where Kelly will forge his alliances remains to be seen. Council Democrats on both sides are courting Kelly's support. When he was a lobbyist for Council, Kelly reported to City Council President Anna Verna, with whom he maintains a good relationship. He also pledged he would vote for Verna, a Fumocrat, to retain her presidency over Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, a Streetnik.

"Jack's in a good position, Jack is a crucial vote. He'll do whatever it takes to do a good job," said Elliott Curson at the fundraiser. Curson was Kelly's media consultant and was instrumental in getting him elected.

Democratic Councilman at-large-elect Juan Ramos, the other newbie in Council, dropped by the affair and pledged his support to Verna.

Last Wednesday night, prominent members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community convened at Pepper Hamilton for a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. Specter, up for re-election next year, is facing U.S. Rep. Patrick Toomey in the Republican primary. Earlier in the year, Toomey was not considered much of a threat. Specter is not taking him lightly, however. Toomey has been successfully raising money and is courting doctors. He has already received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society PAC.

The Specter event was not the usual fundraiser. Guests sat around an enormous conference table in the Pepper Room and talked about how important it is to re-elect Specter because he supports gay rights. Those at the event see Toomey as a copy of U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, an outspoken critic of the "homosexual agenda," and believe that two Santorums in the Senate would be disastrous. Lobbyist and OutFront founder Marty Sellers and Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin, two of the hosts that evening, stressed the importance of re-electing Specter. The senator was joined by his wife, former Councilwoman Joan Specter, who has been involved in fundraising for the National Constitution Center. Sellers pointed out that Joan Specter had long been a supporter of LGBT issues on Council.

Toomey is a supporter of U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave's bill that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. He also received a 0 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign scorecard. It is not clear where Toomey stands on other gay issues; his campaign office did not provide a statement before presstime.

Across town, the Greater Philadelphia Professional Network (GPPN), a gay professional organization, celebrated A Cardwell Christmas, named after Philadelphia Film Society Managing Director Thom Cardwell. The party was held at Lamberti's and the signature cocktail of the evening was the Cardwell, a green martini. Guests included GPPN's David Hallowell, PA Film Commissioner Jane Shecter, OutFront Executive Director Doug Shaps and Dolph Goldenburg of the William Way Community Center, which will benefit from the LGBT Mayoral Inaugural Gala on Jan. 3.

Cardwell said there are big plans in the works for the 10th annual International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, to be held this July.

Attorney Lenny Klehr, a large financial supporter of the mayor, had a blowout party Thursday night at the Bellevue. The party had an island theme with beach umbrellas and martini glasses filled with jerk chicken. Beach towels were given to departing guests. Klehr said he was leaving shortly for Aruba. Partygoers ran the gamut from key Republicans, well-known Democrats, union officials, journalists, developers, city officials, L&I inspectors and Sister Mary Scullion. Word is that one top official in the mayor's Cabinet will be resigning in the next few months and another top Cabinet member hopes to leave and resurface in the top job at the waterfront.

Later, some of that crowd wandered over to the Ritz-Carlton for attorney Christy Adams' holiday soiree, which was attended by such luminaries as State Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro, Common Pleas Court Judge Bill Manfredi, lobbyist David Maser and blast-from-the-past Joe Rocks.

Saturday night was Midge Rendell's birthday. She arrived at Philadelphia Gay News Publisher Mark Segal's party with her husband just in time to sing "The 12 Days of Christmas" with the Gay Men's Chorus, but not before guests sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Segal is a co-chair of the LGBT Mayoral Inaugural Gala.

And on Sunday, Ed and Judy Camiel hosted their Christmas soiree at their expansive home in Merion. Ed Camiel is the nephew of the late Democratic Chairman Peter Camiel. The party, which also benefited Catholic Charities, attracted Federal Justice Berle Schiller, Republican City Committee Chairman Vito Canuso and his well-dressed wife, Sara, and Chet Beiler, a Republican candidate for Auditor General next year.