November 13-19, 2003

political notebook

When Elephants Rumble

JOAN JACKS JAMIE: Democratic Councilwoman Joan Krajewski backed Jack Kelly.

by Mary F. Patel

Jack Kelly won a seat on City Council last week after a bitter battle against his top contender, Jamie McDermott. Both ran for the two Republican Council at-large seats along with incumbent Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. , David Oh and David Hardy. Rizzo, who was first elected in 1995 after beating Joan Specter, was considered a certainty to win a seat from the start due to his name recognition. His father was former Mayor Frank Rizzo Sr. The other GOP at-large seat was vacant due to the death of Councilman Thacher Longstreth, who died in April. There are seven at-large seats on City Council and in the general election, voters can only vote for five candidates. There are five Democratic candidates who usually get the most votes. The other two seats fall to minority parties. Kelly and McDermott were the favorites to win the Longstreth vacancy.

The two campaigned harmoniously until the final stretch of the race. Then the nasties started.

Kelly claimed that State Sen. Vincent Fumo, who Kelly said was supporting McDermott, was behind negative mailings directed against him.

"In all my 30 years in politics, I've never seen anything like it," said Kelly. "Those mailings were a cheap shot. But the negative effect actually helped me; people came out for me when they heard I was being attacked. Just like they came out for John Street. Jamie is just a puppet for Fumo."

"Vince spent more money trying to bring Jack down than Jack raised himself," said Elliott Curson, who handled Kelly's media campaign. "I estimate Vince spent at least $150,000."

Fumo, through his spokesperson, Gary Tuma, declined to comment.

McDermott's office said he was on vacation and would not be returning calls until he returned next week. He is the executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority.

While McDermott received support from Fumo, who may have wanted another ally on City Council, Kelly got support from the Electricians Union Local 98 and its business manager, Johnny Dougherty, who also happens to be the treasurer for Democratic City Committee.

"Jack welcomes help from everyone financially," said Curson. "I know John knows that at least two Republicans have to win on City Council and Jack was going to be one of the winners. They all like Jack. I think that when Vince found out that John wanted Jack to win, he backed Jamie. But now, it's a defeat for Vince because smear tactics don't work."

Former Republican mayoral candidate, and former state boxing commissioner, George Bochetto, also a well-known attorney, was McDermott's campaign chair.

Interestingly enough, Bochetto also represents Dougherty and Local 98, who are not friends of Fumo. "I had nothing to do with the politics of it," said Bochetto, who was busy preparing for a big boxing match Saturday night against Billy Riel. "I just raised money." (Bochetto's firm represents this reporter in an unrelated matter.)

Dougherty did not return calls.

Aside from getting help from Dougherty, Kelly got some plugs from Democratic elected officials such as Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and City Controller Jonathan Saidel, who both did TV commercials for Kelly. In one commercial, Krajewski says, "Of course I like Jack Kelly. But there's no way that I'll do a TV commercial for him."

In Saidel's spot, he says, "You know, I generally don't like Republicans. But hey, Jack's from Northeast Philly."

"Northeast Democrats Joan and Jon like Jack because he's for the Northeast," said Curson.

During his campaign, Kelly pledged that he would help the Northeast because there has not been a councilperson at-large from the Northeast in a long time.

Kelly was the Seventh District councilman from 1988 until he lost to Daniel McElhatton in 1991. (Rick Mariano now holds that council seat.) Kelly later became a lobbyist for the city until he resigned to run for the at-large seat.

Kelly said he would keep both of Longstreth's council aides, Christopher Wright and Holly Maher, if they wanted to stay on.

Kelly also said he would likely vote for 10th District Councilman Brian O'Neill for minority leader in Council.