CITY HALL SAM: Williams, Clarke Pose Problems For Each Other

STATE SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS was the guest of honor at a Center City fundraiser last week. MARTY WEINBERG, Chairman of the Obermayer mega-law firm, was master of ceremonies and the event was well attended.

Interestingly, COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL CLARKE was also the guest of honor at a fundraiser for Young Democrats. The speculation grows that Clarke may be a serious mayoral contender in the 2015 race. This would cause problems for Williams, the current perceived frontrunner. Why? Because Clarke controls votes in City Council. This could take support and money away from Williams and make the mathematics of the citywide victory much more complex.

So what is Williams to do? Williams has been attending every public event possible. He has been actively courting Northeast Ward Leaders in order to add to his current base.

Speaking of the Northeast Ward Leaders, their Chairman MIKE McALEER convened a recent meeting. The special guest of honor was CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY. McAleer encouraged Northeast Ward Leaders to endorse Brady for party chairman in advance of the election. The motion was carried unanimously. Brady graciously thanked the group for their support after at first joking, “Thank you … I think.”

Among the ward leaders in attendance were LORI BEDNAREK, BOBBY HENON, SHAWN DILLON, TOMMY JOHNSON, PEG RZEPSKI, HARRY ENGGASSER, BILL DOLBOW, JANICE SULMAN, JOHN SABATINA, PAT PARKINSON, BERNICE HILL, CONNIE DOUGHERTY, BOB DELLAVELLA and Helen Farrell. The always-reliable LOU FARANELLA also attended to make sure the event was orderly.

GOV. TOM CORBETT still struggles in his day-to-day relationship with the legislature and also with voters. It’s too soon to count him out, but he seems incapable of turning things around. On the Democratic side, KATIE McGINTY appears to have some momentum. The former Philadelphia girl, who graduated from St. Hubert’s and is now a Chester Co. resident, could move poll numbers. She recently scored 15% to ALLYSON SCHWARTZ’S 22%. ROB McCORD was third. McGinty argues she is a reasonable alternative to an unelectable Schwartz. Schwartz is thought to be too liberal for Pennsylvania by many but she is clearly the frontrunner in cash and perception. The Democratic primary continues to shape up to be an absolute bloodbath in the spring. The Democrats must not make the mistake that they always seem to make, and that is to weaken themselves against a weak Republican.

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