June 9-15, 2005

political notebook

Plans to Beat Off Santorum

by Mary F. Patel

Gov. Ed Rendell was feted at a massive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fundraiser last Friday night in a show of support for his re-election bid next year.

More than 100 people showed up at the historic Wissahickon Avenue mansion of Dr. Russell Harris and John Casavecchia for the event, which was sponsored by Liberty PA, Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club and OutFront!. Funds raised went into Rendell's already well-stocked campaign war chest.

OutFront's executive director Doug Shaps said Rendell spoke passionately about the community, but was at his most eloquent when he discussed how the country and the state were built on a base of tolerance for others.

"He was not happy with the rhetoric of [U.S. Sen. Rick] Santorum and said he would work hard for the ticket with [Bob] Casey," said Shaps.

While the focus was on Rendell and the governor's race, the hot topic at the fundraiser was possible approaches to dethroning Santorum. The Santorum race is the most important election for the local and national LGBT communities next year. Santorum's disparaging public remarks about the gay lifestyle and same-sex marriage have set the stage for their animosity.

"We are going to split our energies between Rendell and Casey, just like we did last year when John Kerry ran for president," said Liberty City co-chair Michael Marsico, referring to the community's simultaneous support for Kerry and Democratic senatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel. "Rendell wants us to do the same thing, use the same energy we had last fall to move the state forward. We don't want to only win for Rendell, we want to win big."

Marsico said a private meeting was scheduled for the weekend with prominent members of the LGBT community to discuss strategy and take a good look at the race.

"National Stonewall is getting involved," he said.

Casey, the current state Treasurer who lost his bid for governor to Rendell in 2002, is considered the favorite by Rendell and other high-ranking Democrats in the race for Santorum's seat. But although a Democrat, Casey is no bleeding-heart liberal. He is pro-life and is not comfortable with the concept of same-sex marriage.

"As long as you don't use the word marriage, he's fine," explained Shaps. "He'll call it "same-sex union.'"

Even though Casey, like Santorum, has many conservative ways, this community feels they can work on him.

Charles "Chuck" Pennacchio, a University of the Arts professor who's pro-choice and supportive of gays, is also running in next year's Democratic primary. He would seem to be the kind of candidate this community would normally support, but Pennacchio, who's running a true grassroots campaign, does not have the big guns behind him like Casey does.

"Chuck has to build a base and momentum to beat Casey," said Shaps.

Although no formal decision had been made about supporting Casey, the Rendell supporters gathered that night would most likely go with Casey.

Liberty PA chair Renee Gilinger, whose biggest goal next year is to get rid of Santorum, has been busy organizing Internet domains as an outreach for the community.

"So far there is Santorumsucks.org, which will be up in a few weeks. That Web site is for posting all the dumb things Santorum says," she adds. "And then there will be StopSantorumNow.org coming soon."

An Independent Auditor

Last week's column addressed the importance of an independent City Controller to conduct audits on City Hall.

Now, an independent candidate for controller is running with no party affiliation and no strings attached.

Paris L. Frazier, III announced last week he is running for the seat.

The 63-year-old West Mt. Airy resident is a CPA, who worked in the controller's office from 1982 to 1986 under Tom Leonard and, then, Joe Vignola, before transitioning to the accounting office in the Department of Human Services. He later went to work at the Sheriff's Office until his retirement in 2002.

Frazier is also a community volunteer who is the treasurer of the Northwest Victims Services and does volunteer bookkeeping and accounting for the African-American Chamber of Commerce.

After the City Hall convictions, the controller's office will be watched very closely since contracts were such a big issue in the case. Frazier said the way he would handle the office would make a difference that would save taxpayers' money.

"One thing I would propose is a more in-depth audit of the Procurement Department," said Frazier. "That is where the city's expenses and contracts start. I would make sure that the contracts were fair and competitive — just like the private sector — and when I would see a no-bid contract, that would raise a red flag."

Without party support, Frazier will have a tough time raising money but he's not worried about that now.

"I am working on getting signatures," he said, who must file by Aug. 1. "An independent candidate needs 5,841 signatures of registered voters. But I want 7,000 to be sure."