Waldorf Salad

by Mary F. Patel

The annual overdose of Pennsylvania politics took place last weekend at The Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City, where 15,000 from across Pennsylvania convened for three days to schmooze, booze and confer at numerous receptions and parties climaxing with the big black-tie event on Saturday night and the arrival of former President George H.W. Bush.

The Pennsylvania Society meets in New York because one of its founding members, Pittsburgh steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, built the Waldorf and insisted that the annual confab be held there.

Parties kicked off on Friday afternoon with a reception hosted by Tom Corbett, who is running next year for Attorney General. Corbett, a Republican, served as the interim Attorney General for 15 months in 1996 after former Attorney General Ernie Preate went to prison for illegal campaign contributions. Corbett's event was held at Oscar's at the Waldorf, where guests sipped cosmopolitans in the overcrowded room and predicted that Corbett would receive the endorsement of Republican State Committee next month. Corbett said he would not run if he is not endorsed. His GOP challenger, Montco District Attorney Bruce Castor, was not in New York. Joe Peters, also not in New York, was considering competing with them but word is he may run on the GOP ticket for Auditor General.

GOP State Treasurer Barbara Hafer's reception, held at the same time, boasted a bevy of key Democrats, such as Marty Weinberg, Bob Feldman, Alan Kessler and Ken Jarin. Next year will be the last year she can serve in her office. It's no secret that the liberal Hafer intends to run as a Democrat in 2005 against U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. Hafer would not announce this at her party, but it was clear from laudatory speeches by Gov. Ed Rendell and Mayor John Street that a party switch is planned.

Down the hall from Hafer, State Auditor General Bob Casey Jr. had a reception that was lightly attended. He is running for State Treasurer next year and, like Hafer, will end his second term in 2004 and cannot run for the same office again.

At 7 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel, next to the Waldorf, there was a mad rush to get into the Blank Rome party. The firm's chairman, David Girard-diCarlo, greeted hundreds of guests at the door. U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, who is conducting a wide-ranging investigation of the mayor's office, was just inches away from Sharif Street, the mayor's son, who was chatting with Carl Singley and his attractive wife, Rose. At the giant prawn table, there was a discussion that included some of those running for U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel's seat. Hoeffel, who was in New York, is leaving D.C. this month to run against U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. State Sen. Allyson Schwartz and Joe Torsella, both in town, and State Rep. Mark Cohen, not seen in New York, are running on the Democratic ticket. Melissa Brown, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully against Hoeffel last year, attended the Blank Rome party and already has red, white and blue campaign cards with her picture on them.

As reported in this column last week, the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) party was canceled due to budget problems and most of that crowd, including Manny Stamatakis, ended up at the Blank Rome affair.

The last party of Friday evening was hosted by the Gov. Mifflin Society, four enterprising young men: Gregg Melinson, Gary Silvi, Eric Weinberg and David Urban. This dessert party attracted younger movers and shakers.

Saturday morning, Sen. Specter was part of the team that filled in the blanks for guests who normally would have been at the annual Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association (PMA) symposium and lunch, traditionally held at the Metropolitan Club. Specter, Rendell and Santorum hosted a political discussion and brunch Saturday morning in honor of the late Republican National Committeeman Herb Barness. Former State Sen. and radio host Bob Rovner said that this was his 33rd year attending society functions and he thought the highlight was former New York Mayor Ed Koch and former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato joking around at the podium with Specter and Rendell.

Later that afternoon, Craige Pepper, a Republican financial adviser from Erie, held a luncheon fundraiser at 21 Club in honor of her candidacy. She is running for State Treasurer next year and considers Bob Casey Jr. her biggest opponent. "The office of treasurer is not a consolation prize," said Pepper, referring to Casey's loss in the Democratic gubernatorial primary to Rendell last year. She stressed that money was important to get out the Pepper name and overcome the Casey name. "I am undaunted by Casey," she stressed.

The tuxedos and gowns came out on Saturday night for the dinner gala where Daddy Bush received the Gold Metal for Distinguished Achievement from the Society. One of the better after-parties was the governor's reception, hosted by S.R. Wojdak & Associates and Ballard Spahr.

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