Building Trades Threaten Split with Philadelphia AFL-CIO Over CaseyEndorsement (Via PoliticsPA)

PoliticsPA has learned that several influential members of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO have clashed with local, state and national leadership regarding the endorsement of Bob Casey Jr. over Rick Santorum for United States Senate. The divergence has become so great that the Philadelphia Building Trades, led by Pat Gillespie, threatened to split from the Philadelphia AFL-CIO at the endorsement meeting Tuesday night. Leaders representing unions including the Sprinklerfitters, Cement Masons and Longshoremen strongly opposed the endorsement of Casey.

Mayfair Civic Association Secures Grant from State Rep. John Perzel for New Radar Machine

John Perzel Awards Check to Scott Cummings, President of the Mayfair Civic Association (MAC)-
Pictured is Scott Cummings shaking John Perzel’s hand in appreciation for the grant that was awarded to the Mayfair Civic Association (MAC). Cummings said the grant will be used to fund a portable speed radar machine in response to the community concern about the increase of traffic accidents. The radar unit will be placed throughout the neighborhood, especially in school zones, to help curb speeding and increase safety awareness.

Inquirer refers to Knox as GOP Mayoral Hopeful

In today's Inquirer the front page of the City and Region declared GOP Mayoral hopeful resigns his position to concentrate on 2007 Mayor's race. It stated that the story was on B3. When you get to B3 there is a story on Tom Knox leaving the firm he is in, so that he can concentrate on running for mayor. However, there was no further mention of the GOP. Last we checked, Knox was vying for the Democratic nomination. Was a deal struck to bring him to the Republicans or was this just a faux pas. Could it be interesting if he decides to go to the GOP with 5 million dollars in hand? Nevertheless, there is no mention of the "GOP" in the online edition but you can read the story here
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/13680318.htm

More Election Fraud Swept Under the Rug -

Sun, Jan. 15, 2006
Tom Ferrick Jr. Political power to restart clocks
By Tom Ferrick Jr.
Inquirer Columnist
What is that foul odor I smell?
Wait, wait, I think I've found it. It's the aroma surrounding the criminal case involving local political bigwig Michael Stack Jr.
Stack, 76, was facing forgery and election-fraud charges in connection with a 2003 race for City Council.
The tense of the verb in the last paragraph is correct... was facing charges. The case was dismissed in a Dec. 22 ruling by visiting Judge R. Barry McAndrews.
McAndrews didn't grace us with a written opinion, but in his order he cited Rule 600, also known as the "speedy-trial rule," which states that a trial must begin within 365 days after a defendant is arrested.
For the record, Stack and two political associates were arrested on Feb. 24, 2004, so obviously more than 365 days have elapsed. Or have they?
Under Rule 600, the clock is stopped if delays are caused by defense actions or motions, lest defenders be tempted to use the rule to engineer dismissals for their clients.
You can see why we have Rule 600: to stop prosecutors from dragging their feet while a defendant sits in jail or walks around in limbo.
In the Stack case, it is clear that the State Attorney General's Office, which brought the charges, never asked for, never wanted, and repeatedly opposed attempts to delay a trial.
The only motion that state prosecutors initiated was two days after Stack was arrested, seeking to have an out-of-town judge assigned to hear the case.
No mental wizardry
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why. Stack is wired politically.
He is a lawyer, son of a congressman, the husband of Judge Felice Stack, father of State Sen. Michael Stack 3d, and longtime Democratic leader of the 58th Ward in Northeast Philadelphia.
His alleged crime: forging several hundred voters' signatures on the nominating petitions for a political protégé, John Farley.
In 2003, Farley quit his job at the U.S. Postal Service to run against Republican incumbent Brian O'Neill for City Council. A judge threw his name off the ballot after GOP lawyers challenged the validity of the signatures.
Feeling betrayed by Stack, Farley complained to District Attorney Lynne Abraham. She recused herself, citing her political ties to Stack as a ward leader, and tossed the hot potato to the state.
The Attorney General's Office took up the cause and convened a grand jury. When Stack and the others were charged, then-Attorney General Jerry Pappert said the case was important "because, in my view, when you corrupt the very beginning of the electoral and political process, you corrupt the entire process."
Not so fast
Stack's lawyers objected to the state's request to have an out-of-town judge oversee the case. Common Pleas Court Judge Frederica Massiah-Jackson ruled against the defense on March 29, 2004. Defense lawyers asked her to reconsider her ruling, and she agreed, telling both sides to file briefs on the issue. That process was completed in mid-August 2004. Massiah-Jackson said she would have a ruling after Labor Day.
It came after Labor Day, all right.
Seven months - that is not a misprint - passed before Massiah-Jackson finally ruled in favor of the prosecutors, and she did so only after the Attorney General's Office filed a pleading, urging her to act.
It is clear from the record that all parties agreed the Rule 600 clock would be stopped while Massiah-Jackson handled the defense objections to appointing an out-of-town judge.
McAndrews, a senior judge from Bucks County, was named in June to handle the case. A preliminary hearing was held in August. Before a trial could be held, Stack's lawyers, citing Rule 600, filed a motion for dismissal. McAndrews dismissed the case three days before Christmas.
"To say that we were shocked and dismayed is an understatement," said Kevin Harley, a spokesman for Attorney General Tom Corbett.
As to myself, I am shocked, amazed, dismayed, and just plain sickened by the smell of it.
To his credit, Corbett isn't giving up. He has appealed McAndrews' dismissal to state Superior Court.

Just another example

Raj Bhakta Raises More Than $110,000 in First Month - 1/12/2006 (Via Politicspa.com)

January 11, 2006
Contact: Chris Brennan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
215-628-4005
215-628-4005 (c)
Raj Bhakta Raises More Than $110,000 in First Month

Pennsylvania Congressional Candidate Raj Peter Bhakta today reported that he has raised more than $110,000 only weeks after the creation of his exploratory committee in the 13th District."We are off to a great first month. I am encouraged and very thankful for the financial support generated within only a few weeks of my announcement - from people eager to bring change and reform to Congress. We gathered strength during the two biggest holidays of the year; it represents the growing momentum of my campaign and the attractiveness of legitimate and thorough reform message." Raj said.
Raj reported contributions of over $110,000.00 for the reporting period, with over $100,000 cash-on-hand.
Brian McDowell, a Northeast Philadelphia resident, said that he contributed and is supporting Raj because of he is a fresh voice and his reform agenda is type of cleansing Congress needs these days. "Raj brings a new voice, fresh ideas, and is not part of the old-boy network in Congress currently spending our tax dollars and under investigation right now. Raj has a clear vision that will improve the lives of people living here. We need a strong leader like Raj who stands for what he believes, brings a different perspective, and will not be a lifelong politician."
Raj is a Managing Partner of Vanquish Holdings, a real estate firm. He also appeared on the 2nd season of NBC's "The Apprentice" in 2004.

Possible New Mayor Candidate (Republican)

It appears that someone by the name of Rob Gurtcheff wants to run for Mayor. He has launched a blog and wants to get signatures. He was born and raised in the Northeast. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan, which we can respect. He is also a Mummer and an investigator for an insurance firm. Not much else is known. He has an interstice plan: "My strategy is very simple: #1)Get on the ballot and #2)get people to vote for me."
See his complete profile here http://www.blogger.com/profile/16913915
Visit his Blog here http://gurtcheff4mayor.blogspot.com./

UPDATE - Rob has withdrawn from the race due to fear for his job. http://gurtcheff4mayor.blogspot.com/2006/01/quicker-than-i-thought.html

Cummings Artice in City Paper

Fast Track
The PPA gives one of its own a political head start.
by Jenna Portnoy

As candidates position themselves for a 2007 run at District Councilwoman Joan Krajewski's seat, the Republican-controlled Philadelphia Parking Authority recently gave a GOP-affiliated employee an edge over the field of possible contenders. PPA head of investigations Scott Cummings, who is vying for the 6th District, which includes Mayfair, Frankford and Holmesburg, has campaigned for House Speaker John Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican who orchestrated the state takeover of the PPA in 2001.

The Home Rule Charter bars municipal employees from running for higher office while on the payroll. No such rule exists for state officials, but the PPA had previously prohibited employees unless they took an unpaid leave of absence or resigned to avoid the perception that they were using public resources to campaign. That all changed Oct. 24, when its board of directors authorized its employees to seek office. Spokeswoman Linda Miller said the board "did not want to deter anyone from carrying out their civic responsibility."
Now Cummings is openly campaigning while possible Democratic contenders state Rep. Michael McGeehan, Finnegan's Wake co-owner Mike Driscoll and Marty Bednarek, a School Reform Commission member, mull a run.
The new policy of the PPA, a traditional bastion of patronage, could give an Authority employee an unfair advantage over a city employee. None of the potential candidates has made an issue of the change, probably because nothing, aside from the party bosses' OK, prevents them from declaring. McGeehan, who wouldn't have to give up his state seat to run, says he is focusing on winning re-election to the House this year. Driscoll ran an unsuccessful campaign for an at-large council seat in 2003 and if he opts to run for the district seat, opponents would likely bring up his connection to Kevin Rankin, a strip-club owner linked to indicted Councilman Rick Mariano.
Krajewski has enrolled in the city's early retirement incentive program, a sign the seven-term councilwoman will not run again. In the meantime, Cummings is working to ensure that political connections are not all he has going for himself in 2007.
Every Friday night, Cummings, a 44-year-old father of three and a former bodyguard for Donald Trump and Henry Kissinger, works the door at JAMZ roller skating rink when the Mayfair Civic Association (MCA) reserves the rink for residents. As president of the MCA, he made a name for himself turning around the former WOW Family Fun Center, which was previously blamed for youths terrorizing the area. "There were kids going through the neighborhood causing damage," Cummings says. "They weren't neighborhood kids."
He should know. Cummings' whole world exists within several miles of the rink. He hops in his white truck and drives to St. Matthew Elementary School for the varsity basketball game. Then it's on to the soon-to-be-opened John M. Perzel Community Center and finally a spin past row homes in search of "House NOT for Sale" signs he distributed to combat the number of sellers fetching high prices for their homes and bailing.
After graduating from Father Judge High School in 1979, Cummings went to Mansfield University, and thanks to his parents' reverse psychology—"That's OK, the neighbors didn't think you'd make it anyway"—earned a degree in criminal justice. He guarded Trump from 1989 to 1994.
In response to a rash of five murders stemming from domestic disputes in the Northeast, Cummings says he wants the large 15th police district split up or covered by surrounding districts. "It's hard to get a police car down here," he says. "They're busy under the El with shootings and stabbings."
Cummings is capitalizing on the chance the Republican establishment gave him to gain an early advantage in a city, but not a district, where Republicans are vastly outnumbered. Cummings, whose wife Vicki won the GOP nomination to challenge Krajewski before bowing out of the 2003 election, is planning a Super Bowl party fundraiser, but city GOP head Vito Canuso noted that bringing in the cash is not a priority. "A lot of the incumbents try to raise a lot of money to scare the other candidates away," he says. "A guy like Scott is doing it the other way. He's working hard."
Still, hard work may not be enough to succeed a "legend," says political consultant Larry Ceisler. "These things don't come up very often," he says. "You're going to have a lot of people interested in running. No one hands these seats to anyone on a silver platter."

Marrone Considering Congressional Run (PoliticsPA.com)

Marrone Considering Congressional Run PoliticsPA has learned that Republican Christian Marrone is considering a run for the GOP nomination in the 13th Congressional District. Marrone, who previously served under Montgomery District Attorney Bruce Castor, now works in Washington as a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense. He briefly considered a run for congress in 2004. Marrone would be forced to resign his job before announcing his candidacy. With deep ties in the district to both Republicans and Democrats, Marrone would be a threat to current frontrunner Raj Bhakta.

UPDATED - Marrone has dropped out of contention.

UPDATED - Preski Eyeing Run for City Hall

First Perzel's race, then maybe her own
Kelly Preski says she likes to work on just one election at a time: First, state House Speaker John Perzel's - then her own.
Preski, whose husband, Brian, is Perzel's chief of staff, is thinking about running for an at-large City Council seat in 2007.
"You heard right," she said this week.
A registered nurse, Preski, 37, said she would make a decision at the end of next year, after Perzel, a Northeast Philadelphia Republican, ends his reelection race. Preski, who worked on Republican Sam Katz's failed bid for mayor in 2003, intends to work on Perzel's campaign.
The Preskis live in Councilman Rick Mariano's district but will soon move to a house they are building in another district, Kelly Preski said.
That district already has a Republican representative, Councilman Brian J. O'Neill, which is why Preski is mulling an at-large race.

Yesterday, on INSIDE STORY, hosted by Monica Malpass, Renee Amoore, President of the Amoore Group and prominent African-American Republican Woman, stated [paraphrased] "that 2007 will bring several Republicans vying for City Council, one of which was Kelly Preski, wife of Brian Preski, Speaker John Perzel's Chief of Staff. Keep your eye out for her." This came as part of the segment at the end of the show where each panelists gets thirty seconds to speak about anything involving politics. This was a very interesting point.

Cummings Makes Snooper Portion of Philly Public Record

Snooper Election Special: Here we go already, and the next City primary is not even here yet. Scott Cummings, former Chief - Bench Warrant Officer-Family Court, and now a Community Leader, is off and running. Scott is going to throw his hat, into the Councilmanic races. Yes, it's going to be - A Neighborhood Civic PAC Draft. He is - the President of the Mayfair Civic Association, and he was also - Henry Kissinger's Security Advisor.

Draft Scott Cummings Super Bowl Fundraiser

NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC PAC
COMMITTEE TO DRAFT SCOTT CUMMINGS CITY COUNCIL 2007
SUPER BOWL PARTY FUNDRAISER
Sunday, February 5, 20065-10pm
Chickie's and Pete's on the Boulevard
11000 Roosevelt Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19116
OPEN BAR/Buffet
Donation: $50.00 per person
If you are unable to attend, please consider a donation to:
Neighborhood Civic Political Action Committee
P.O. BOX 39548
Phila., PA 19136
Checks payable to: Neighborhood Civic PAC
“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS”
NEIGHBORHOODCIVICPAC.BLOGSPOT.COM
NEIGHBORHOODCIVICPAC@YAHOO.COM