ELEPHANT CORNER: Meehan Meddles In Black Wards

This past Monday, LEWIS HARRIS, JR., the Republican Leader of the 29th Ward, and Chairmen of the Coalition of Black Republican Ward Leaders, met with MIKE MEEHAN, the General Counsel of Republican City Committee, and, from what we heard, most of the African American ward leaders. Harris, like many of the other ward leaders, wanted to know why Meehan appointed three white people from South Philadelphia to head predominantly minority wards in North Philadelphia. This elephant also heard Meehan did not contact any of the committeepersons in these wards prior to making the appointments. This is not surprising. Two years ago, when he decided to replace the duly elected 46TH WARD LEADER MARK SUPPLE with himself, he did not speak to any of the committeepersons. It should be noted that those committeepersons have subsequently reelected Supple as their ward leader.

Many members of the herd question Meehan’s ability under the RCC by-laws to replace VICKI FREEMAN, the duly elected leader of the 16th Ward, and to fill the vacancies in the 13th and 49th Wards. The by-laws allow the Chairman of the RCC to fill the vacancy in the 13th which was caused when the leader resigned. The vacancy in the 49th is because the ward never organized; instead of appointing someone, the RCC should help the ward organize. It should be noted Meehan is not the Chairman of RCC. Many ward leaders and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania believe VITO CANUSO is not the Chairman of the RCC as the RCC did not properly organize in 2010.

The herd wonders why Meehan choose to take these actions at this time. The buzz in the jungle is that he was negotiating with the insurgent side of the party to find a Chairman acceptable to both factions. Was this action his way of indicating he was not really interested in a compromise Chairman? Or was he just doing what he has done for years without thinking of the ramifications? Perhaps he thinks the current intra-party fight is similar to the Republican Study Group’s challenge to his father BILLY MEEHAN’S power in the late 1970s. The Republican Study Group rather quickly folded when the candidates they backed did not prevail. However, 2011/2012 is a different story. Last November, two of the four Republicans elected to City offices were people Meehan opposed (DENNY O’BRIEN for City Council and AL SCHMIDT for City Commissioner). Although he endorsed DAVID OH for City Council, Oh has more in common with Meehan’s opponents. Recently, Meehan cut deals with Party chairmen in the surrounding Counties and with the insurgent faction of the Party to form slates of Delegates and Alternate Delegates for the Convention from the 1st, 2nd and 13th Congressional Districts. The deals were undermined not by the insurgent ward leaders but by ward leaders who had ostensibly been on his side in the intra-party fight.

A number of interesting events are scheduled over the next week. Tomorrow, the Commonwealth Club will be hosting a luncheon at the Union League. The keynote speaker will be JON RUNYON, Representative from New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District and former Philadelphia Eagle. The Commonwealth Club is a fundraising group for PAGOP. On Sunday, Apr. 1, there will be a fundraiser for DENISE FUREY’S run for Alternate Delegate. This event is a departure from your typical political fundraiser as it will feature a performance by magician RANDY SHINE. Perhaps he can make a few Democrats disappear. Next Wednesday, Apr. 4, there will be a debate among the Republican Senatorial Candidates also at the Union League. Radio host DOM GIORDANO will moderate the debate. The debate will be sponsored by the Loyal Opposition, the Philadelphia Young Republicans and the Philadelphia Republican Leadership Council.

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