Also this issue: Giveaway A neighborhood dispute raises questions about NTI. -Daniel Brook Street Credibility -Daryl Gale The Bell Curve City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

December 25-31, 2002

political notebook

It's A Wonderful Life

by Mary F. Patel

Councilman Thacher Longstreth and his chief of staff/fiancee, Melanie Hopkins, hosted their annual Christmas party at their new, well-appointed Rittenhouse Square condo. Intent on running for re-election, Longstreth was visited by numerous guests, such as Gov.-elect Ed Rendell and Tom Knox, the former owner of Kasser Liquor and now a vice-chair of the Liquor Control Board on Rendell's transition team.

Jack Kelly, the city's lobbyist, dropped by; he is running for an at-large GOP Council seat. Kelly said he expects to receive the endorsement of the Republican City Committee. Fifth-Ward GOP leader Karen Chizek, a pro-choice activist, was mulling over a run for GOP at-large, but instead may run against Democratic First District Councilman Frank DiCicco. "I have been approached by many to run," said Chizek, "because I am pro-development. I also think we need residential trash collections more than once a week."

On Wednesday, the lobbying firm Hill Solutions hosted its annual holiday soiree at the Union League, which got so crowded people moved out to the hallways to talk. Hill partners Eric Weinberg and Jack Thomas Tomarchio have added Jonathan Duecker to the team. A former U.S. Drug Enforcement special agent, Duecker will help Hill's clients by using his law and military background to research terrorism risks.

Meanwhile, over at the Bellevue Hotel, the Klehr Harrison law firm party was in full swing with a DJ and hundreds of people, including various city officials like Deputy City Solicitor Joe DiGiuseppe and L&I special projects director Joe DiOrio. The firm is a major contributor to both Rendell and Mayor John Street. Partner Lenny Klehr is co-chair of boards and commissions on Rendell's transition team.

While the Klehr affair was carrying on, a more subdued party took place at the Ritz-Carlton, hosted by popular attorney Christy Adams and attended by notables like Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro and William Manfredi, Common Pleas Court Supervising Judge of the civil trial division. Herb Vederman, who was planning to leave for Seoul, South Korea, was also there. He will be attending an economic summit with key officials on behalf of the Rendell administration to discuss the possibility of establishing businesses here and in Korea. How Vederman will be received remains to be seen, due to last week's presidential election in South Korea. Roh Moo-hyun, elected last Thursday, is less friendly toward the U.S. than his predecessor; he does not want to join U.S. forces in pressuring North Korea into abandoning nuclear weapons and ending missile sales. Initially, Vederman said he would try to meet with South Korean government officials. Now, however, the trip will be focused on reaching the business community.

On Thursday, the Democratic City Committee had its Christmas open house, hosted by Party Chairman and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady and Treasurer Johnny Dougherty.

Mayor Street arrived and promised to raise and give substantial amounts of money to the party.

The room was full of 2003 judicial candidates like Lori Dumas and Ramy Djerassi, who are both running for Common Pleas Court. Municipal Court Administrative Judge Seamus McCaffery is considering running for the one Supreme Court seat next year. Philadelphia Police Department Integrity and Accountability Director Ellen H. Green-Ceisler is exploring a run for Common Pleas Court. Green-Ceisler is known as the civilian watchdog, uncovering corruption and misconduct within the police department. She has gained national recognition for her investigation of systemic problems within the narcotics division. If she runs for judge, she must resign her position. She was originally appointed by former Mayor Rendell and kept on by Street. Green-Ceisler is married to political consultant Larry Ceisler, but the two separated last spring.

Ed Rendell and his wife, Judge Midge, opened Philadelphia Gay News Publisher Mark Segal's annual Christmas party on Saturday night. The Rendells sang a few carols with the Gay Men's Chorus and Spruce Street Singers. Guests noted that Midge Rendell is not only good-looking but has an operatic voice as well.

Other guests included Rendell's scheduler, Phyllis Halpern, and TV personalities like Channel 6 host Wally Kennedy and blast from the past Gene London. London, who had a long-running children's show in Philadelphia in the '60s and '70s, is selling his Gramercy Park apartment and moving back here to work on a special project that involves a member of the royal family. London said he wants to wait until he secures a location before disclosing more details. Latecomers were former Police Commissioner John Timoney and his wife, Noreen, who were just back from Phantom of the Opera in New York. Both are looking forward to their move to Miami next month; the former top cop has been recruited as police commissioner there. They plan to live in North Miami.

WMMR DJ Pierre Robert dropped by after a bus tour of houses with outdoor Christmas lights in South Philly.

Ed and Judy Camiel had more than 300 people at their manse in Merion on Sunday. Ed, a psychiatric consultant, is the nephew of the late Democratic party boss, Pete Camiel. He decorates the house himself starting in October -- complete with singing trees and Santas.