November 27-December 3, 2003

political notebook

by Mary F. Patel

Ménage à Trois in the House

It looks like there will be a lot of action in 2004 as Democrats battle incumbents for House seats. Last week, Political Notebook revealed that State Rep. Babette Josephs (182nd Legislative District) will be facing Andrew Hohns again. It turns out that Terry Gillen, 30th ward leader and former aide to Gov. Ed Rendell, will also run against Josephs.

A. J. Thompson will once again look to unseat State Rep. Marie Lederer (175th Legislative District). That is also a three-way race because, as mentioned last week, Sheila Ballen is in that fray as well.

Gillen said she made her decision a few weeks ago. "The incumbent [Josephs] has gotten tired and is not doing a good job," said Gillen. "I never see her around the district and at last year's tax meetings she was nonresponsive. At public meetings she said she couldn't do anything."

Gillen, 48, founded the Coalition for Fair Taxes, a grass-roots organization of property owners in the city created to fight against high property tax hikes, in 2002. Gillen worked for Gov. Rendell as director of policy in the Commerce Department and has since left to run for Josephs' House seat.

Gillen said she was approached last year by many in the district who were unsatisfied with the choices. "They said it was between an incumbent who did nothing or a young kid who had no experience [Hohns]. I am a pro-choice woman with experience in business and in Harrisburg. I have strong ties and will do very well, particularly in Grays Ferry were my family is from." She added that ward leaders usually support other ward leaders.

Gillen last ran for a City Council at-large seat in 1999, unsuccessfully. "I raised over $200,000," she said. She opted not to run for Council this year because she felt most of the incumbents would get back in. During the Rendell mayoral administration, Gillen first worked in Commerce and, later, at the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Corporation. "I have no interest in a political sponsorship from [State Sen. Vincent] Fumo or [Local 98 Businessman and Democratic City Committee Treasurer John] Dougherty," said Gillen. "And I expect Rendell will stay neutral."

"I have had 25 town meetings in my district since the summer," said Josephs. "Just because she doesn't see me doesn't mean I'm not around. I have introduced legislation in Harrisburg addressing the haphazard way property taxes are increased in my district."

A.J. Thompson, a 27-year-old lawyer in former Councilman Dan McElhatton's firm, wants another shot. He ran against Lederer in last year's primary and received 1,940 votes to her 6,207. Thompson, a lifelong resident of Fishtown, said, "Marie is a nice lady, but she's had the seat for 14 years. My focus will be on public schools. Most kids are below level on reading and math, which is atrocious. There is supposed to be a budget for education in Harrisburg, but where is it going?"

"The reason Marie has been in office 14 years is not only because she is nice but hard-working," responded her chief of staff, Michael O'Brien.

Legal Ease

It was a really big shew Saturday night at the National Constitution Center’s 25th anniversary gala for Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (PVLA). The organization provides pro bono legal services for the arts community.

The crowd was substantial and PVLA's new executive director, Andrew Frankel, said the black-tie event raised over $200,000.

Honorees were Leslie Anne Miller, general counsel to Gov. Rendell, and Paul Tufano, president of Independence Blue Cross and former general counsel to former Gov. Tom Ridge. Ridge, now the secretary for Homeland Security, attended and made a nice speech about the importance of the arts. Tufano spoke at length about Ridge's accomplishments in Washington, which provoked a mixed reaction.

Gov. Rendell spoke via video, but no one noticed because his wife, Midge Rendell, a Third Circuit Court of Appeals justice who looked snappy in a knee-length black cocktail dress, introduced Miller.

Barry Dornfeld, professor at UArts, screened his video celebrating PVLA's accomplishments.

Joe Torsella, who attended, will be leaving his position as president of the Constitution Center at the end of the year to run for U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel's seat. Hoeffel is resigning to run against U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.

Torsella has never run for office before, but said he "can do a hell of a job for the district." The 40-year-old Torsella was Rendell's deputy mayor of policy and planning before taking the Constitution Center job seven years ago. "I think what I've done with Rendell has made us proud. I can make things happen and represent our Democrat values in Washington," said Torsella.

Neil Oxman will handle his media campaign. Oxman, who did not attend the PVLA event, said later that Torsella has raised an impressive amount of money: $400,000.

Torsella faces stiff competition in the Democratic primary. He will be running against many, including State Sen. Allyson Schwartz and State Rep. Mark Cohen.

"That's what campaigns are all about," said Oxman.