CITY HALL SAM: Playing Political Golf At The US Open

There were a number of VIPs walking the course at Merion this past weekend. Merion was the host of the US Open Golf Championship. CONGRESSMAN CHAKA FATTAH was seen talking to business executive and former Chamber of Commerce President NICK DeBENEDICTIS. The DeBenedictis family lives along the prestigious course in Ardmore and their home borders the 11^th green. Also seen were Public Utility Commission COMMISSIONER ROB POWELSON and Centre Co. STATE SEN. JAKE CORMAN and his lovely wife. STATE SEN. LISA BOSCOLA of Lehigh Valley also attended along with her husband. Many politicians watched the tournament from the tough 15^th hole where they saw golf superstars TIGER WOODS, RORY MCELROY, ERNIE ELS, JASON DAY and US Open winner JUSTIN ROSE, to name a few. Independence Blue Cross also hosted a hospitality tent where EXECUTIVE VP CHRIS CASHMAN enjoyed the sites and hosted many people.

Democratic State Committee met once again in Lancaster Co. The number of gubernatorial candidates chose to attend even though this race is still very far off. Among them were STATE SEN. MIKE STACK and former Rendell cabinet member TOM WOLF. KATIE MCGINTY and ALLYSON SCHWARTZ set up tables and sent minions. ROB McCORD also attended. McCord has just set up his gubernatorial PAC which is a prelude usually to an official announcement of candidacy.

Seen at the Prime Rib enjoying dinner were mayoral hopeful and mega-millionaire TOM KNOX and State Sen. Mike Stack. At the same time, Senate MAJORITY LEADER DOMINIC PILEGGI was the guest of honor at a high-dollar sit-down dinner. The sponsors were high-powered lobbyist ROCCO PUGLIESE and many others. The always-reliable Chief of Staff to Sen. Pileggi, DAVE WOODS, was ubiquitous yet unobtrusive.

Now the State Supreme Court has struck down challenges to the mandatory-70 retirement age, several new vacancies for judges will be created in Philadelphia. JIM CRUMLISH should be considered a good candidate. He ran a great race in the most-recent judicial elections and made sure to stay close to CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY. No one can be successful as a judicial candidate, for the most part without Brady’s support.

The question remains whether congressional candidate BRENDAN BOYLE will run for both his State Rep seat and Congress at the same time. The Northeast legislative scene has been complicated by the approved redistricting plan that merges the seats of STATE REPS. JOHN SABATINA and ED NEILSON. A huge battle looms unless the situation can be resolved. One resolution would be to have Neilson fill the Boyle seat. Stay tuned….

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