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January 5-11, 2006

political notebook

Who's In and Who's Out in '06

IN

Patrick Meehan Although lower-profile than New York's Eliot Spitzer, our U.S. attorney is successful at prosecuting greedy self-serving politicians, an action that is long overdue. He's well-positioned for a run at the governor's seat in 2010, if he wants.

Sharif Street The mayor's son is attracting big donors to his fundraisers—even though he won't say which office he'll seek.

Randy Giancaterino It's time to move the mayor's press office to the city's Commerce Department, so public-relations consultant Giancaterino can buff up John Street's image like he's been polishing the city's business reputation.

Duane Bumb The city's deputy commerce director, appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell in his first term as mayor, runs the show in an office that remains untouched by scandal.

Mary Fogg and Ira Shrager Fogg, Councilman Rick Mariano's first chief of staff, had the good sense to get out of the office before his boss did anything indictable. Shrager was Mariano's staff lawyer and even though he was unwittingly a party to Mariano's alleged-dirty-deeds-done-dirt-cheap, he woke up in time to tell the feds everything he knew—and then some.

Kate Philips and Gary Tuma As press secretary for Rendell, Philips has a lot of ground to cover, yet always responds to media questions quickly. Tuma has the daunting job of being the spokesperson for the controversial Sen. Vincent Fumo, yet is always professional and will always give a statement, even if it's "the senator has no comment."

The Potential 2007 Mayoral Candidates: Jannie Blackwell, George Bochetto, Bob Brady, Nelson Diaz, Frank DiCicco, John Dougherty, Dwight Evans, Chaka Fattah, Tom Knox, Michael Nutter, Frank Rizzo, Jonathan Saidel and the ones we've yet to hear of. The more the merrier! Hopefully, the free-for-all race will provide one or two candidates who will come up with some good ideas for leading the city.

OUT

Pennsylvania Slot Parlors Why just slots? They will neither bring in the big revenues that the state claims nor attract a class of tourist that'll spend big money. Slots are also much more addictive than other forms of casino gambling. If there must be casinos, bring the table games in now.

Penn's Landing Corporation This nonprofit, quasi-public, politically connected group should be disbanded. Taxpayers are awarding these guys big green. Get rid of this secret society down on the river that does nothing. In case you were wondering, the job of Penn's Landing Corp. is to find ways to develop and enhance the waterfront. A few festivals a year just doesn't cut it. Its latest debacle is making decisions about slot parlors on public property without consulting the public.

Fairmount Park Commission This 16-member panel, appointed by the Common Pleas Court Board of Judges, should also go. Another politically connected bunch, not one of the members has any preservation experience or any clue how to protect, preserve and promote the park's 9,200 acres.

Mayor John Street His defiance in reiterating that he had no idea that his friends are corrupt is getting stale. Besides, he hasn't done anything lately to try to move the city forward or find viable solutions to combat the city's crime wave like former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani did when his city was in dire straits.

The Mayor's Press Office A useless entity indeed. No return calls. No information. Only e-mails of Street's daily appearance schedule where you can't ask him real questions anyway.

Jonathan Saidel The city controller has left the building. After 16 years as the city's watchdog, Saidel decided to "pursue other interests." A real spitfire when he was first elected, Saidel got off track at the end of his career and got too cozy with the politicians he was supposed to be watching.

Judicial Candidates Who Give Money to Ward Leaders In last year's primary election, candidates for local judgeships lined up to grease the palms of unscrupulous Democratic ward leaders who brokered their own deals outside the endorsed ticket. Bad move. These same candidates already give money to both the Democratic and Republican parties for ward costs. If the candidates had stuck together and refused to pay, and play with, these ward leaders, the judicial election process might smell better.

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