POLS ON THE STREET: City Republicans Look To Taylor As Healer

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ What made State Rep. John Taylor’s annual Historical Site Cigar & Wine Tasting at Colonial Dames headquarter on Latimer Street so exceptional this time?

It wasn’t the cigars, or the various wines, or the VIP crowd of regular supporters who appreciate Taylor’s solid performances in the State General Assembly as the 177th Dist.’s legislator since 1984. It was the amazing fact, through the crowded rooms of this historical site, Republican leaders from both factions of the Republican City Committee were there, acting as though they were of one mind as well as talking to each other.

That could not have happened had the event been for any other major player in this city’s Republican Party. Taylor (R-Kensington), who, together with Vince Fenerty and other key ward leaders, as well as Republican Counsel Michael Meehan and Chairman Vito Canuso, have spent a great deal of effort to bring the existing factions together.

Taylor, reportedly, would have accepted a draft replacement when Gleason announced the State Committee no longer recognized Canuso as chair. But the Gleason-led Philadelphia group wanted one of their own, insisting, after some jockeying, on Rich Hellberg for that role. Others, within the state loyalist group, have offered as candidates Ward Leaders Mike Cibik or Joe DeFelice.

If Mitt Romney hopes to get a crack at winning Pennsylvania, he needs someone to pressure a compromise. Recent polling before and after the primary shows there is no expectation younger voters who turned out en masse to support President Barack Obama the first time around, will do so again. They face a jobless job market, especially among the new generation of high-school and college graduates. Older employees in both the public and private sectors are not retiring when they can because of a growing inflation and uncertainty with the economy. Both age groups are looking with disdain on the political system.

Pennsylvania is considered to be one of the swing states, crucial to Obama’s reelection or defeat. If the City Republican Party doesn’t come together early this summer, the continued vacuum will support Congressman Bob Brady’s tireless efforts to lead the Democrats to another major, if not record, turnout for Obama.

Unique to the Republican Party in this town is the fact it now has a number of active Black Republican leaders, who, if given the guidance necessary to grow their ward registrations, could conceivably cut some of the turnout numbers hoped for in this city by the Obama campaign team.

Gov. Tom Corbett, through surrogate Gleason, has called for greater effort from the Republicans in this city to tap into those potential registrations. This has not happened, though Gleason continues to fund the opposition to the present Republican City Committee leadership. A number of the state-supported ward leaders campaigned hard to win slots as delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, but their combined efforts produced few new registrations. A look at the primary results in Philadelphia found better support for Gov. Corbett’s nominee for US Senate, Steve Welch, from within the wards controlled by the Republican City Committee.

Philadelphia now only has one Republican legislator in its House caucus. That is Taylor, and that’s why he must take himself out of consideration for the post of Republican city chairman. He now has his hands full as the point man for key city legislation and funding; luckily for the city, he is a key Republican within the GOP-dominated legislature. His importance in that role was made more obvious by the appearance of Mayor Michael Nutter at the fundraiser.

Taylor’s effectiveness has resulted in, just this year alone, the legislature’s advance toward a Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Foreclosure programs, helping the city with land-bank bills, working to keep Catholic schools open and helping charter schools. In addition to his role as chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee, Taylor has also been deeply involved in the problem of school violence and has been at the forefront of the fight against the abuses of Oxycontin, the prescription painkiller. Also an attorney, he is of counsel to the firm of Archer & Greiner law firm.

Corbett, who gave the green light to the effort by Republican leaders here to remove Vito Canuso from leadership, could easily be blamed for a poor November effort by the Republicans in this city. Corbett needs to bring the factions together, yet by his actions, it is obvious he is not sweating Philadelphia for any reason. His disdain for this city is made more obvious as he continues to appoint, reappoint, and elevate to state agencies Republicans from every other county but ours.

If the GOP doesn’t hurriedly bury its differences to form a united front, the Democrats will have an easier time rolling up the majorities of voters set for them by the Obama team, which began kicking up the registration drive this past weekend in Oak Lane. That kickoff was led by State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) and Councilwoman Marian Tasco.

THE SWITCHAROO! Now that former political director of IBEW Local 98 Bobby Henon is 6th Dist. Councilman, childhood friend, Marita Crawford, has filled his shoes as new Political Director for Local 98. Crawford has had years of political experience with Democratic City Committee, Congressman Bob Brady and was Chief of Staff for Councilman Bill Green. Photo: Maria Merlino

BOYLE PROVES SOME WARD LEADERS WEAK

State Rep. Kevin J. Boyle (D-Northeast) won a landslide victory in the Democratic primary, beating opponent challenger Danny Collins by over 30 points (67%-33%). This was Collins’ second run for State Representative; he lost in 2010. On primary night, Boyle said, “I commend my opponent for a hard-fought race and wish him well.”

The victory was even more interesting in the fact Boyle was not supported by three ward leaders in the district: Bernice Hill, Pat Parkinson and John Sabatina, Sr. They supported Collins. Boyle won Bernice Hill’s 63rd Ward by an astounding 48 points (74% to 26%). Boyle said, “I want to thank those 63rd Ward committeepersons who strongly supported me, despite the fact I wasn’t supported by their ward leader. The results speak volumes.”

According to campaign finance reports filed with the Department of State, Sabatina funded most of the Collins campaign. “It’s a humiliating defeat for John Sabatina,” explained Seth Kaplan, Boyle’s chief of staff. “He handpicked Danny Collins to run against Kevin,” Kaplan added, “Sabatina tried to knock us off, and he failed miserably.” Boyle attributed his victory to the fact, “For the last 16 months, I have worked day and night to represent the people of my district, from Fox Chase to Mayfair, from Bustleton to Tacony. This big victory validates all of that hard work.”

WHAT WERE WE DRINKING LAST WEEK?

Pat Murphy and Pat Meehan were on our mind election day and the day after, so when it came to writing up winners and losers in the State House races, we reported, “ In the 173rd, Congressman Pat Meehan has a well deserved ride to Harrisburg unopposed by a Republican candidate in the general election.” Everyone knows the “boss” of the 173rd is State Rep. Michael McGeehan.

DeWEESE WINS; AND LOSES

State Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Greene), a long-time power broker in the State House, was sentenced this week to 30 to 60 months in state prison on his convictions for using state-paid employees on his election campaigns.

Dauphin Co. President Judge Todd A. Hoover imposed the sentence, plus $25,000 in fines and $116,000 in restitution, little more than two months after a county jury convicted the 35-year Democratic legislator of multiple counts of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest. He had to resign, despite his primary victory.

Gone will be the need for his colleagues in the House to carry dictionaries with them when they debated him.

BABETTE’S THOUGHTS ON DEFEAT BY SIMS

State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) conceded the race for the 182nd House Dist. to Brian Sims, saying, “My congratulations go out to the Democratic nominee Brian Sims and all of his supporters. “Throughout many difficult, but successful races in my long service, I have consistently said the voters are always right. I cannot change my tune now. I am truly grateful to the voters for allowing me to serve them for so long and for the opportunity to work with so many dedicated, talented, patient and professional colleagues, staff members and volunteers.”

Sims thanked her, saying, “Our margin of victory was less than 250 votes” and adding, “Pennsylvania has taken a huge leap forward by electing its first openly gay state legislator.”

JOHNSON’S THOUGHTS ON HIS DEFEAT

With the final tallies showing he ran third in the 180th House Dist. primar,y which saw State Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Kensington) easily reelected, followed by challenger Jonathan Ramos, Anthony Johnson blames his “bitter pill to swallow was the abysmal voter turnout, with less than 6,000 voting in a population of 60,000.”

PHILLY’S GREENS ARE STAR-STRUCK

Chris Robinson reports the Green Party of Philadelphia voters met at the Buzz Café, in Kensington for a presidential caucus. The local Greens considered three candidates for the Green Party’s nomination to run for President of the US. They were Dr. Jill Stein, Roseanne Barr and Dr. Kent Mesplay.

The caucus was star-struck. Actress Barr received 55% of the votes, Stein 40% and Mesplay 5%. She’s not home free, though, since similar Green caucuses are being held throughout the Commonwealth and those delegates go to their national convention Jul. 12-15 in Baltimore.

LIBERTARIANS MEET IN VEGAS

Best way to get a convention crowd is to hold it in Las Vegas, which is why the Libertarian Party expects about 700 delegates at its National Convention at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas this weekend. The Libertarian Party’s nominating process differs significantly from that of the Republican and Democratic Parties. Both the presidential and vice presidential nominees are elected at the convention through independent voting processes starting with the presidential nomination. The presidential nominee does not choose his or her running mate.

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