January 13-19, 2005

political notebook

Swearing Ins and Signing Offs

by Mary F. Patel

City Controller Jonathan Saidel may not be returning calls about it, but word on the street has him making a big announcement on Jan. 27. Apparently, he'll vacate his office at the end of the year to make a run for mayor in 2007.

"He told me last November he was not going to run again," said state Rep. Alan Butkovitz, who is planning to run for controller — banking on Saidel making the move. If all goes his way, Butkovitz will announce next month. He has already lined up fellow House member Louise Bishop to be his campaign chair and Jack Collins will run media.

Former Common Pleas Court Judge John Braxton is also planning to run in that Democratic primary should Saidel vacate office.

Meanwhile, Seth Williams is planning to announce his candidacy for district attorney this Saturday at Center in the Park, a senior citizen's recreation center in Vernon Park near Germantown High. Williams, a Democrat, will run against incumbent District Attorney Lynne Abraham in the May 17 primary.

Williams said he chose Jan. 15 because it is Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. He chose the location because he wanted to focus on violent crimes against seniors and also gun violence in schools. Williams, a former assistant DA under Abraham now in private practice, said handgun violence is one of his key issues.

"The problem with the DA's office is that 52 percent of felonies get thrown out because the prosecutors in her office are not prepared. They get their caseloads the night before," he said. "The judge has no choice but to throw out the case when the prosecution is unprepared, which means more criminals go back on the street."

Williams added he would work on a major overhaul of the district attorney's office.

"There are eight prosecutors who are working in the government fraud unit, a unit that prosecutes welfare moms. Another unit with 16 prosecutors focuses on auto insurance fraud. Now, I'm not saying that these crimes are not important, but you need to deploy people strategically," he said. "I want to hire people who know that Broad Street runs north and south, not necessarily people who came from Ivy League schools."

Williams, who has hired the public relations and lobbying firm Buzz Communications owned by former Daily News columnist Harriet Lessy, added that he'll be flanked by supporters, including former prosecutor Joel Rosen of Ira Einhorn fame, state Sen. Shirley Kitchen and city Councilman Wilson Goode Jr.

"Lynne is smart on crime, she's just not tough," Williams said. "It's time for a new day with a new DA."

Abraham will announce her re-election bid in City Hall on Jan. 31. Her campaign manager, Eleanor Dezzi, declined to comment on Williams' criticisms.

"The day of her announcement the district attorney will give a full report of all the accomplishments of her office," she said.

No word on whom the Republicans will run for DA or controller.

GOP State Committee Chairman Alan Novak is leaving his position to pursue other interests. Vice Chairwoman Eileen Melvin is expected to take over.

Renee Amoore, the Republican State Committee deputy chairwoman who served as chairwoman of the Pennsylvania delegation at last year's GOP National Convention, is hosting a gala on the eve of President George W. Bush's inauguration. The party, a prelude to the inaugural festivities, will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington.

Bush appointed Amoore chair of the Legislative and Public Relations Committee of the Presidential Commission of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a proposed museum that will become part of the Smithsonian.

Bush will be sworn in on Jan. 20 by U.S. Chief Justice William Rehnquist outside the U.S. Capitol before the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. There are nine inaugural balls planned for the evening. Pennsylvania will join New York and New Jersey for the Stars and Stripes Ball in the Convention Center ballroom.

The Creative Coalition, that eclectic group of national entertainment types that hosted seminars at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions last summer, is holding a gala at the Reagan Center that same night. It follows a pre-event black tie VIP reception at the St. Regis Hotel.

Easy Rider Dennis Hopper and his wife, Victoria, are the chairpeople, and Heineken is the sponsor. Luminaries expected to attend include U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter and John Sununu; congressional members Mary Bono and Mark Foley; and actors Susan Lucci, Matthew Bodine, Joe Pantoliano, Joe Piscopo and Tim Blake Nelson, just to name a few.