POLS ON THE STREET: Labor Leaders, Brady To Host Fattah Breakfast

THAT IS learned thinking of Carpenters’ Union whose workers were posting this banner on Spring Garden Street Union Headquarters. Carpenters have been on target in picking winners in past elections. State Sen. Anthony Williams has most of organized labor behind his campaign for mayor in Democratic primary. Photo by Bill Myers

by Joe Shaheeli

Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.), ranking member, Committee on House Administration and Committee on Armed Services, together with major labor leaders, will host a Breakfast Reception & Labor Policy conversation with special guest Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) at Warmdaddy’s, 1400 S. Columbus Boulevard at Reed Street, on Thursday,  Jan.  29.

The breakfast fundraiser is in honor of Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Phila.), House Senior Democratic Whip Team member and ranking member of Commerce, Justice, Science subcommittee and House Appropriations.

Labor hosts include Ryan Boyer, business manager, Laborers’ District Council of Philadelphia & Vicinity; John Dougherty, business manager, IBEW Local 98, Patrick Eiding, president, Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council; Patrick Gillespie, president, Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council; and Sam Staten, Jr., business manager, Laborers’ Local 332 Philadelphia & Vicinity.

Scott, who is ranking member on the Committee on Education & the Workforce, through his committee work is the leader in Washington on legislation that impacts organized labor and all working Americans. Join them for a discussion of labor policies that impact the workforce in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

The breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. and will run to 10 a.m. Suggested contribution levels are $2,500 — Sponsor, $1,000 — PAC, and $500 — Individual. For more information or to RSVP, please call Kristen at (267) 314-7770 or events@saintbernardgroup.org. Contributions should be made payable to Fattah for Congress, PO Box 30753, Phila., PA 19104.

BEREAVED daughter Sherrie Cohen celebrated her mother’s life at shiva in her Olney home even as she hopes to step into her shoes in City Council. She was joined by scores of well-wishers, among them Steve Jones, left, and Irv Ackelsberg.

Deeley Seen Leader In Commissioner Race

Lisa Deeley has proven herself as one of the Democratic Party’s most able and loyal supporters. Her resume shows how she has earned that designation. For years she was a key staffer with then-State Rep. and now City Controller Alan Butkovitz. She then responded to the call by 6^th Dist. Councilman Bobby Henon to become his Director of Community Outreach.

She’s been trained in community service by her mother Barbara Deeley from the day she could hand up a leaflet to a voter answering the door knock during an election. Her mother is the state’s first County Sheriff.  For over two decades, she worked in that department, and was appointed to the top post to fill out the term of Sheriff John Green, who had retired.

Through the years, the ever-present, dynamic duo has lent a helping hand to elected officials, ward leaders and others. Odds are they will remember. Look for her to be one of the endorsed Democratic candidates for City Commissioner, should the party endorse for those hotly contested seats.

Another, with strong backing is the Laborers’ Omar Sabir, also a staffer with State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.).

SOLIDLY in Democratic 27th Ward Leader Carol Jenkins’ corner in her race for City Commissioner were Jobs With Justice Exec. Dir. Gwen Snyder, Walnut Hill Community Association President Horace Patterson, Jenkins and nonprofit leader Andy Toy, at fundraiser hosted by Mary Goldman in W. Phila.

Grace Lauds Wolf’s Beer Decision

Local 830 Secretary-Treasurer Daniel H. Grace is a man of few words. What he says, he means. So Gov. Tom Wolf was pleased his action to exclude Yuengling Beer from his inaugural celebration met Grace’s approval by this top labor leader. Yuengling President Dick Yuengling has proven to be a distinctly anti-worker with anti-union attitudes.

“Every union member in Pennsylvania is indebted to Gov.-Elect Wolf for this strong statement on behalf of the state’s labor movement,” Grace said. “By standing against Yuengling, he has stood up for the little guy.

“For nearly a decade now, he has abused those workers who wished to remain part of the Teamsters Union and has steadfastly fought any new attempt to unionize his brewery workers,” Grace continued. “He’ll tell you otherwise – that his workers don’t want a union – but that’s simply false.”

Educators Group With Primary Muscle?

Care about education? Then here is your chance to commit some time to its cause Luigi Borda, veteran at-Large Council candidate, and a believer those involved in education need to demonstrate political muscle in a proven way, helped organize a group called “Working Educators Caucus” of which he is the political secretary.

You’ll see some of them at political rallies and at City Council and any and all forums promoting their platform. Borda has more-ambitious plans. He helped elected six committee people in various wards and is working to put together other members who will line up behind one candidate in the at-Large Council races, gather “thousands” of signatures on that candidate’s petitions to “open eyes” and deliver those same signatures into votes in the primary – enough to make the candidate an outstanding winner.

Candidates interested should set up a meeting with caucus by calling Borda at (267) 886-5444.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. Day of Service was highlighted at Bright Hope Church events headlined by Sheriff Jewell Williams seen here speaking, then with former Governor Ed Rendell, City Commission candidate Lisa Deeley, and flanked by Chubby Checker and US Sen. Bob Casey. Sheriff Williams attended several other events as well. Photo by Donald Terry

Hughes Staffer Wolf Budget Secretary

Randy Albright, one of State Sen. Vincent Hughes’ key staffers, has been selected by Governor Tom Wolf to be the Budget Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Randy was the executive director of the Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee.

“Pennsylvania has an estimated budget deficit of at least $2 billion and an economy that ranks last in job growth,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “Randy Albright is a proven budget and policy expert. He provided the analysis that enabled us to understand months ago what has now become painfully evident: We are in a perilous fiscal situation, and budgets crafted over the last several years were irresponsible at best. We need Randy’s unparalleled insight as we try to right our fiscal ship.”

Philly Firms Helped Pay For Wolf Inauguration

More than $1 million was raised to help fund Gov. Tom Wolf’s inauguration celebration on Tuesday. Contributions came in the form of cash gifts or product donations. Wolf capped cash contributions at $50,000 and released the names and amounts of those who gave more than $500.

Below are the names of those from Philadelphia with cash contributions.

Ace American Insurance Co. $5,000; Berger & Montague, PC $50,000; Blank Rome, LLP $25,000; Comcast Corp. $50,000; Commonwealth Strategies, Inc. $2,500; Dilworth Paxson, LLP $25,000; Fairmount BHS $2,500; Independence Blue Cross $50,000; Kline & Specter $10,000; Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel, LLP $25,000; Parkway Corp. $25,000; Philadelphia Eagles $5,000; Philadelphia Insurance Cos., $10,000; PRWT Services $2,500; Richard Vague $50,000; Rittenhouse Consulting Group $10,000; Ross, Feller, Casey, LLP $25,000; Saul Ewing, LLP $10,000; The Graham Co. $12,500; The Kinser Group $5,000.

Product contributors were:

Philadelphia Distilling $1,300 and Yards Brewing Co. $2,000

US SEN. Bob Casey, Jr., and Mayor Michael Nutter shared moment at Martin Luther King program at Girard College with PCHR Commissioner Marshall Freeman. Photo by Leona Dixon.

170^th Will See Dems Behind 1 Candidate

Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Phila.) would like to see Seth Kaplan, long a key staffer for him and his brother Kevin during their service in the State House, fill Brendan’s old seat. They may help Kaplan contest the candidacy of John DelRicci, who has yet to announce for the now-vacant seat although he has been endorsed by the Northeast Ward Leaders.

Kaplan was named one of PoliticsPA’s top operatives of 2014 for his work in Brendan’s victory in the four-way Democratic primary for the 13^th Congressional Dist.

Lt. Gov.  Mike Stack has indicated his support of DelRicci along with a majority of the Democratic ward leaders in that caucus.  Del Ricci was described as Stack’s “longest friend politically or otherwise.” The Lieutenant Governor is the leader in Philly’s 58th Ward and holds a majority of the committee votes.

Any independent or third-party candidate would have to acquire 300 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

We don’t think the Boyles will turn this into a contest this time around. But next term around, knowing the brothers, they will have spent their spare time walking Kaplan around the district, sending him to all events, and knocking at voters’ doors during the ensuing time with him in tow.

Endorsed Republican candidate Martina White, who hails from a family of fighting Republicans, is already canvassing the district.

Terry Tracy To Enter Council At-Large Race

Terry Tracy will formally announce his intention to participate in the upcoming Republican primary for City Council at Large at Dwight D, a City House Hotel, 256 S. 16^th Street at 5:30 p.m.

JUDGE Dwayne Woodruff & wife Joy came from Pittsburgh to attend MLK civic program at W. Phila. HS on Monday. He is running hard statewide for Supreme Court.

Tracy, a Fitler Square resident, was  Republican nominee for City Controller in 2013. He recently returned from an international assignment with the Ralph Lauren Corp.

Tracy commented, “City Council’s conventional approach to problem-solving has failed to make the necessary progress. This must change. As I learned in business, innovation and creativity are essential to achieving real progress and real prosperity from Parkwood to Passyunk.”

Open Primary Looms Likely For SC Entries

With the recent announcement Allegheny Court of Common Pleas by Judge Dwayne Woodruff he intends to run for Supreme Court, the new question in the minds of the county chairs from both parties is can we get a consensus on a slate either of both party endorsed candidates or their own party slate?

Woodruff is notable for having as a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he served as team captain, won the team’s MVP award in 1982, and played in Super Bowl XIV during his rookie year in 1980. Who dare lock out this icon?

Also, bringing in a big bloc of political support on his own is Adams County President Judge Michael George. Things are already looking promising for the Adams County judge. George led the GOP’s Central Caucus straw poll. George is currently serving his second 10-year term as a judge. He chairs the Adams County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, a position he has held since its beginning in 2007.

JUDGE NELSON DIAZ saw this crowd, left, when he made his campaign for Mayor kickoff. As he was seen by this crowd surrounded by family. Photo by Joe Stivala

George joins fellow Republican candidates Superior Court Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen and Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer, as well as Supreme Court Justice Correale Stevens, running for reelection. Stevens was appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett to complete Joan Orie Melvin’s term, which ends in January 2016.

Superior Court Judge John Bender has also expressed interest in the race but has not declared.

In addition to Judge Woodruff, other Democrats who have thrown their hats into the ring include three judges on the Superior Court, Christine Donohue, Anne Lazarus and David Wecht, as well as Jefferson Co. Judge John Foradora.

This election will result in “a sea change on the court,” said Lynn Marks, director of the judicial-reform advocacy group Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, as the old and new justices strive to restore respectability to a court whose image has been tarnished by scandal in recent years.

There also are two open seats on the intermediate appellate court – one each on the Superior and Commonwealth Courts – but those campaigns may be obscured by all the commotion at the top of the ticket.

   Send article as PDF