ELEPHANT CORNER: Changing Of The Guard At RCC

Tuesday night, Republican City Committee held its spring fundraiser at Cannstatter in the Far Northeast. CHAIRMAN VITO CANUSO announced at the fundraiser that for the “good of the party” that he would be resigning shortly. Canuso said he would support STATE REP. JOHN TAYLOR for chairman. Taylor is believed to have agreed to serving on an interim basis until June of next year when an election for RCC officers is expected to be held.

Typically the RCC holds fundraisers on the Tuesdays immediately preceding the primary and general elections, but owing to scheduling problem with the venue it was held a week early. The event filled one of the larger rooms at Cannstatter, leading one warder leader to observe the party was well attended. A veteran ward leader countered that not too long ago this event would have taken up two rooms. A yet-more-seasoned ward leader reminisced about the BILLY MEEHAN days when this reception would have been held at the Convention Hall of the old Civic Center in order to accommodate the large crowd.

Montgomery Co. COMMISSIONER BRUCE CASTOR announced he no longer plans to enter the primary next year against GOV. TOM CORBETT. This elephant believes that this was a smart move for Castor. His bid to take on Corbett was not winning him many friends in the Republican Party. He already has detractors, owing to his disputes with former fellow GOP County COMMISSIONER JIM MATTHEWS. While many treat Matthews more harshly, in particular for siding with the Democrat County COMMISSIONER JOE HOEFFEL against Castor, many hold Castor at least partially culpable. I believe Corbett would probably win a primary fight with Castor. However, it would be a costly distraction. While the herd recognizes Corbett’s approval ratings are weak, it should be noted GOV. ED RENDELL’S ratings at this point in his first term were not a lot better. Rendell went on to win a second term by roughly 20 points.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court JUSTICE JOAN ORIE MELVIN was convicted of six counts of public corruption charges owing to her use of her then-Superior Court staff for campaign purposes. Last week she resigned and this week was sentenced to three years of house arrest and two years probation. She is far luckier than her sister, former STATE SEN. JANE ORIE, who is serving a 2-to-10 year sentence for similar offenses. As part of her sentence, Orie Melvin must write apologies to every judge in the state on the back of pictures of herself.

Orie Melvin’s resignation has brought on heightened speculation as to who will replace her on an interim basis. The appointment will probably run through 2015. The Governor will nominate a candidate who then must obtain the approval of two-thirds of the State Senate. While Republicans are in the majority, they would need the support of seven Democrats to get to the two-thirds. We expect that in order to get Senate approval (especially the Democratic votes), the candidate would need to agree not to run for the seat in 2015.

President of the Supreme Court and former Philadelphia District Attorney RON CASTILLE has been heard asking for a replacement for Orie Melvin as soon as possible. The Court has been without a seventh judge for roughly a year and this, according to Castille, has contributed to a sizable backlog. Local names that have been tossed about include Delaware River Port Authority Commissioner and Stradley Ronan attorney WILLIAM SASSO.

GOP political operative TIM O’BRIEN continues to make positive political moves. Fresh off his successful fundraiser, he’s made a very-generous donation to the United Republican Club from the Philly Future Fund which he chairs. He recently was elected to the URC board.