A new name has emerged in the already crowded field of potential 2007 Democratic mayoral candidates. Potential fundraisers and donors have been talking to former City Solicitor Nelson Diaz about the possibility of taking up the challenge. Diaz would add a new dimension to Philadelphia politics, since he'd be the city's first-ever Latino mayoral candidate.

In 1981, Diaz was appointed by Republican Gov. Dick Thornburgh to Common Pleas Court. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court then named him administrative judge of the court. In 1993, he was tapped by President Bill Clinton to be general counsel to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Eight years later, Mayor John Street appointed Diaz to be city solicitor. He served in that position for two years and four months. During his career, he also worked as special assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale as a White House Fellow, executive director of the Spanish Merchants of Philadelphia, on the board of directors of Exelon Corporation, and on the PNC Bank advisory board.

Diaz, 58, now practicing in government relations at the Blank Rome law firm, had no comment on his future plans. His backers — they're remaining behind the scenes for the time being — say they feel Diaz can prevail.

"You have maybe three black men running, Michael Nutter, Chaka Fattah and Dwight Evans," said one political observer who wished to remain anonymous. "If they all run, they'll cancel each other out just like George Burrell and Lucien Blackwell did in the 1991 mayor's race. I don't think the city is ready for Jannie Blackwell, and John Dougherty and Jon Saidel won't get enough votes in the black wards."

Diaz might have to overcome the negative connotations of his former association with the scandal-ridden Street administration, but the city's growing Latino population is expected to become more politically active in the next five to 10 years. Since Diaz works for the city's largest historically Jewish law firm, he can hope to also get Jewish support.

Media types attending last Thursday's Media Bistro party at Marathon Grill were stunned when host Bobbi Booker announced her resignation. Booker, a journalist, blogger, radio personality and literary consultant, has hosted Media Bistro events around town for the past two years.

That night, Bistro foundress Laurel Touby came down from New York and mingled with guests while the journos drank, kibitzed and listened to local novelist Meredith Broussard. After Broussard finished reading from her soon-to-be-released book The Encyclopedia of Exes, Touby introduced Booker as a former Inquirer reporter instead of a former Tribune reporter. Booker corrected her, thanked everyone for coming and then said she would no longer be hosting Bistro.

Questions of "Did she just quit? What was that about?" buzzed through the room.

Booker told Touby that she no longer wanted to be affiliated with such a "moronic" individual who exhibited such a lack of leadership. The relationship turned sour last May when Booker said Touby and her staff arranged for New York literary agent Larry Weissman to be a speaker and to bring along the three Philadelphia magazine writers — Sasha Issenberg, Jason Fagone and Benjamin Wallace — for whom he secured book deals. (Booker said Touby never told her of those plans). The Weissman appearance never happened, but Booker felt slighted that Touby was trying to micromanage. Booker also claimed Touby wouldn't give her a budget for the events.

"I spent a lot of time, for free, looking for venues for these events," said Booker. "The New York office has an event planner to help them. I am always looking for a deal, some comp drinks, food, to make folks happy."

The kicker for Booker was when Touby flubbed her bio.

"I was crying after what she said to me," said Touby from Los Angeles, claiming she messed up the introduction because she was nervous. "I respect Bobbi and I just don't understand what happened. I am sorry about Larry, I just forgot to tell Bobbi, but I thought it would be a good event for Philly. And, if she needed help in finding a venue, we would have helped but we thought she enjoyed doing it."

Touby is a savvy businesswoman who began Media Bistro in 1993 in New York as a way for journalists to gather. Her Media Bistro Web site is a large marketplace for jobs, news and classes. With parties in numerous cities, Touby says she attends close to 200 events a year. (Hosts in each city work for free.)

Touby, who says the Web site is "not a job board," has a no-networking policy at her parties, which sounds odd. (Why else do they go?)

The outgoing Booker has expanded the Philly Bistro scene and has recruited a cadre of minority journalists and guests, such as noted writer Touré. While Booker said she plans to continue hosting her own gatherings, Touby is looking for a new Philly host and plans to bring Weissman here in October, "even if I have to host it myself."