How to Win Friends

by Mary F. Patel

Last week, a group of young professionals hosted a fundraiser for outgoing City Controller Jonathan Saidel at the Union League. Saidel will most likely run for mayor in 2007, although he cannot publicly announce until he resigns or finishes out his term this year as controller.

With tickets ranging from $100 to $500 a person, some 100 supporters showed up, according to Jonathan Goldstein, one of the organizers. Saidel's campaign operatives did not allow media to attend and no specific reason for that was given to Goldstein, who had invited this reporter. Along with Goldstein, other hosts included Sean Reilly and Gregory Montanaro. All three are Republicans and Reilly said it was a mostly Republican event although a substantial amount of Democrats were also there. So, why are Republicans supporting a Democrat?

"This event was issue-based and not a party event," said Goldstein. "Saidel is for small government, low taxes and he has budget and fiscal knowledge."

Arts advocates who are concerned about the life of arts and culture in the city, particularly since Mayor John Street slashed the arts budget, made up a substantial part of the crowd.

Popular as he may be, Saidel has baggage, particularly since the convictions in the City Hall corruption case. How much Saidel knew or didn't know about former Treasurer Corey Kemp taking large amounts of money and gifts from individuals looking for city contracts remains to be seen. The Controller's Office must sign off on all city contracts.

Reilly said he didn't think Saidel was involved in any of the scandals and that he is the best man for the job.

Thanks for the Privilege

Consulting for judicial candidates has become a local growth industry. But, are all those dollars being spent by candidates to help the electorate choose helping the city's bottom line?

In the May primaries, judicial candidates spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on various consultants who were supposed to advise them on how to win a judgeship. Three of the better-known consultants were Carol Campbell, Peter Truman and State Rep. Jewell Williams.

According to Department of Licenses and Inspections spokeswoman Gayle Johns, both Campbell and Williams have Business Privilege Licenses which allow people, or entities, to conduct business in the city. Neither Truman nor his company, Dan Silo Associates, has one though, according to Johns. And, according to its Web site, the Pennsylvania Department of State has no record of a corporation formed by Truman being registered with the state. Truman, who lives in New Jersey, may be paying his taxes there, but he may not be paying them to Pennsylvania, where he earned the income, since the state has no record of him. Truman has been consulting in the city in previous years so, while returns showing income from the last primary wouldn't have been filed, he should have applied for his license before. (Attempts to reach Truman to discuss the issue before press time were unsuccessful).

City Revenue Deputy Commissioner Jim Halley said that there are no recent filings by Williams and that Campbell has been filing. (Halley said that the only information available to the public is whether an individual or entity has been filing their taxes; the amounts, terms and other information are confidential).

Williams said that it is his understanding that all of his taxes are paid and that he has only been a consultant since 2004.

"My former accountant passed away and I will check the records with my new accountant," he said.

Freedom Galore

All you wet blankets who are whining about the crowds in town for Live 8 and the free Elton John concert on the Fourth should do me a favor and go to Wildwood.

If you're in town, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops will perform a free outdoor concert of American music and patriotic anthems starting at 8 p.m. Sunday on the lawn of Independence Mall. That will be followed by a ceremony to raise the flag, which will now be lit as part of the National Park Service's efforts to beautify the tourist attraction.

Tickets are still available for the Philadelphia Freedom Ball at the Philadelphia Museum of Art prior to Sir Elton's concert on the Art Museum steps July 4. Funds raised from the ball will benefit the fight against HIV/AIDS. Phone banks will be set up at the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the ball and concert for phoned-in donations to the cause. Call 800-935-4740 to contribute. John and other celebrity performers will attend the ball and perform at the free concert where Patti LaBelle is expected to reprise "Lady Marmalade." For more information about these events, see www.phillyfreedom.net.