ELEPHANT CORNER: Philly Republicans Schmooze Seriously As Election Season Heats Up

Councilman David Oh was a great emcee for a fundraiser to raise money to erect a statue of “Wild Bill” Guarnere – half of the Philly World War #2 heroes known from the TV miniseries: “Band of Brothers.” Oh, a veteran, left, is seen with Debbie Rafferty, Bill’s granddaughter; and Gene Guarnere, Bill’s son; with a likeness of Bill from 1942. The event was held in the Canstatter Club. Photo by Joe Stivala

Last Thursday, Republican City Committee held its annual winter fundraiser at Knowlton Mansion in the Northeast.

Montgomery County businessman and Pennsylvania’s representative to the Republican National Committee BOB ASHER was the honored guest. (Each state has two representatives to the RNC: a man and a woman. The female representative is Indiana County businesswoman CHRISTINE TORETTI.) RCC chairman and State Representative John Taylor was the master of ceremonies. The event was extremely well attended.

Asher regaled the crowd with entertaining stories. The most amusing was about a Philadelphia mayoral debate between Republican candidate THACHER LONGSTRETH and Democrat RICHARDSON DILWORTH. Asher was a very young man at the time and was Longstreth’s driver during the campaign. Both candidates arrived at a union hall for the debate. Dilworth suggested that Longstreth speak first. Longstreth spoke at length about serious issues. Dilworth followed, merely commenting that he had never heard such BS and pointed to the bar in the back of the hall, stating the drinks were on him – thus winning the debate.

Friday night, the 56th Ward held a fundraiser at Nick’s Roast Beef in Rhawnhurst.

N.E. PHILA. business leader and former mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger threw his hat into ring for Republican City Council at Large – repeating his solid 2011 race. Announcement at Nick’s Roast Beef on Cottman Avenue betokened Al’s strong base in Republican-rich N.E. wards where he is well liked.

WARD LEADER MARK WULLER was the master of ceremonies. He INTRODUCED AL TAUBENBERGER, the former leader of the ward and candidate for City Council at Large. Taubenberger ran for this seat four years ago and lost to COUNCILMAN DAVID OH by less than100 votes. RCC EXEC. DIR. JOE DeFELICE attended, as did CITY COMMISSIONER AL SCHMIDT. Taubenberger thanked WARD LEADER MATT WOLFE for attending the event.

Wolfe is a running mate or opponent, depending how you view the Council-at-Large race. In the May primary, Republican voters will select five candidates who will be on the ballot for Council at Large in November. At this point, there are seven Republicans seeking those five slots.

Last Wednesday, TERRY TRACY formally announced his plans to run for City Council at Large at the Dwight D Hotel on S. 16th Street. The event was very well attended and well run by his campaign manager ALLAIRE CORBETT. Tracy was introduced by his CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN JOE MCCOLGAN. McColgan ran for this seat himself four years ago. Tracy spoke of the City Council’s failed policies and how their actions and in-actions have contributed to the economic problems of the City of Philadelphia.

COUNCIL candidate Terry Tracy is flanked by Joe McGolgan (who took a shot at City Council himself in 2011) and Ward Leader Mike Cibik at Tracy’s campaign kickoff at Dwight D Hotel in Center City.

Pennsylvania TREASURER ROB McCORD’S resignation is taking some more twists and turns. Initially he resigned stating he was doing so because he engaged in criminal fundraising activities. He threatened at least two potential donors that he could use his office to negatively affect their businesses.

Now it appears he received a donation from a PAC that is under federal investigation. The Enterprise Fund gave McCord’s campaign $125,000. The Enterprise Fund came to the attention of federal election regulators as it missed its filing deadlines by eight months. The PAC is affiliated with JOHN ESTEY, a former chief of staff to then-GOV. ED RENDELL. The Enterprise Fund had only two contributors: ROSS NESE, president of Grane Healthcare, who contributed $100,000; and Campaign for Equality, another PAC, contributed $25,000.

Campaign finance reports reveal the Campaign for Equality received donations from yet another PAC, the Campaign for Pennsylvania’s Future. The treasurer of the Campaign for Pennsylvania’s Future is MAX TRIBBLE, who works for a charter-school management company run by Republican VAHAN GUREGHIAN. The chairwoman of the Campaign for Equality is ABIGAIL MEYER (who appears to live at the same address as Tribble).

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