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by Joseph Shaheeli
Republicans-their ranks torn, tattered, weary, and decimated by years of losing general elections-see him as their new Commander of Hope.
Democrats see him as a Palestinian wannabe, strapping a bomb to his chest willing to blow himself up along with the city's fragile financial structure for what he considers to be its failure to fully fund its public schools.
Those are the first impressions readers have gotten from general circulation press and electronic media reports.
The second impression from press reports and complaining local Democrats are that he covets the Philadelphia Parking Authority's treasure trove of patronage jobs. Those jobs, if parceled out through the local GOP leadership, could help restore vigor to the weary and worn rank and file workers within his party.
The Philadelphia Public Record has learned from sources high in the GOP, that Majority House Leader John Perzel has a more personal motive for having effected his coup de grace take-over of the reins of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Perzel accomplished the takeover with a surprise maneuver that legislatively expanded the Authority's Board of
Directors. It insures the Governor and the Republican controlled Legislature will appoint those members, thereby taking over control from the Democrats.
His move, he said, was made to insure the new board leadership would deliver a minimum of $45 million to the schools in lieu of that payment normally being made to the city treasury.
The truth of the matter, the Public Record has learned, is Rep. John Perzel is truly the newest zealot of the axiom "all elections are local."
He and other elected GOP Leaders in this city and neighboring counties believe that the Democratic Party has reached its level of dominance and control of almost every facet of political life in this town because Republican leadership long ago moved from being an opposition force, no matter how weak, to becoming a rubber stamp. Its rank and file were often oblivious of the deals its leadership found it necessary to make with Democratic leaders to insure certain Republican "candidates" would get Democratic support. These GOP leaders feel the time has come to end surrendering almost every viable elective post to save the positions of a privileged few.
This practice hit home for Perzel in his last campaign to retain his district seat. He eked out a win by a scant 50 votes over challenger Mark Chilutti. He attributes that to the party's erosion in the northeast. He believes a party committed to winning, rather than an "understanding" would have kept the rank and file stronger, possibly stopping the loss of the party's long time icon, Senator Hank Salvatore.
Perzel's legislative coup acquires a new GOP power base of over 450 people-all exempt from civil service regulations and hiring procedures. It's a power base the Republicans have not enjoyed since losing control of the courts over two decades ago. It also gives Republicans a say in which new capitol projects get to take advantage of the PPA's bond raising power, an exciting new campaign funding source.
Perzel, of course, contends there was no other way to get increased funding for the city's schools. That was the purpose for his successful surprise maneuver through the House.
He pulled off a legislative coup, one that will go down as legendary in the annals of legislative power politics, and obviously the kind that would have as easily been thought up by men of the caliber of State Senator Vincent Fumo had the shoe been on the other foot. Perzel stripped Senate Bill 789 of all the language, which originally called for legislative changes in State Authority structures, and inserted just eight lines. Those lines gave him the take over power with a bill totally different than had passed the House
That accounts for the fact why so few of Philadelphia's House members were aware of what had transpired. Senate Bill 780 was no longer the bill that had come over from the Senate earlier in the session. The bill was now dramatically limited to a specific Authority, but remained germane to the original purpose of the introduced Senate version and thereby remained legal. There was no fear the House, since the Republican majority has always demonstrated a reluctance to stray from Party recommended legislation, their majority would not vote passage "no matter how bold the affront." Perzel has also demonstrated a strong ability of working both sides of the aisle and assured the bill additional Democratic votes in the process.
Perzel, the Record learned, strongly believes unless a strong effort is made to resuscitate the rank and file working membership of the Republican Party in the City of Philadelphia, more state wide elections will be in jeopardy.
According to several younger ward leaders, "Perzel knows people may be inclined to vote for one party, but will often register in another party depending on who in the neighborhood is knocking on their door making the request. He believes a sizeable number of Philadelphians will change or register anew as Republicans if asked."
It's this same group of young leaders who have been quick to find fault with their party leadership, though not publicly. However, Perzel's move gives them reason to throw their lot in with his.
It is no secret John Perzel has a distain for his leadership. This was shown by his not alerting the Republican Party leadership in this city what he had in mind. "He didn't want to chance opposition to his move by his own leaders," said an ally.
Perzel's move, to those who understand the "body politic," is a clear declaration he would soon announce his intention to run for the leadership of the Republican City Committee or to support a candidate of his choosing for the effort.
His announcement will mean the end of a Republican tradition of appointed leaders. RCC chairman Attorney Vito Canuso is certain to face serious opposition in two years.
The same will not be true for Republican Counsel Mike Meehan whose position seems secure due to the long history the Meehan family has with the party and because of his willingness to spend time in the trenches himself.
The bottom line for Perzel is he has moved himself from being a major player in Harrisburg to becoming one in Philadelphia as well. Suddenly his 172nd Legislative District seat has become Ground Zero.
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