Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community had a wild time last Friday night at a party in the Society Hill home of former Human Rights Campaign chief financial officer Harvey Hurdle and his partner, Kevin Yoder. The event was a fundraiser for LibertyPA, a relatively new political PAC, comprised primarily of LGBT members who aim to advance the statewide Democratic agenda.

"Our primary goals are to get rid of Rick Santorum and get Gov. Ed Rendell re-elected," said LibertyPA state director Renee Gilinger.

In a time when Democratic politicians actively seek the gay vote — and access to the gay community's substantial wallets — the event was crowded with candidates. LibertyPA's goal for this campaign is to raise $500,000.

Rendell popped by briefly and pledged $25,000. U.S. Rep. and Democratic City Committee Chairman Bob Brady and Local 98 business manager and Democratic City Committee Treasurer John Dougherty both appeared with $5,000 checks. State Sen. Vincent Fumo pledged $10,000, but didn't show up. Between those donations and the $250 and $1,000 guest tickets, Gilinger said almost $100,000 was raised.

In the crowded living room, Brady maintained he has no interest in running for mayor. While Dougherty had little to say about his candidacy, Jonathan Saidel, who can't announce his plans to run until he resigns as City Controller avoided talking to this reporter.

Brady said he has introduced legislation in Washington for the U.S. Postal Service to issue a 38-cent first-class postage stamp; the penny increase would be a voluntary donation to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. He has close to 60 supporters for the bill (both Republican and Democrat) and is waiting for a committee hearing on the matter.

"It's very difficult to get anything done in Washington when you are the minority party," said Brady. "If I can't get it done, then I'll give it to a Republican like [U.S. Rep.] Curt Weldon to sponsor."

Though Brady deflected City Hall speculation, the Black Clergy Association will soon start circulating petitions that they will present to Brady, asking him to run for mayor for the good of the city.

Out on the roof deck, the hot topic was next year's elections.

Eric Stern, formally the Democratic National Committee director for LGBT Outreach, is now the executive director for National Stonewall Democrats, which will hold its convention in Pittsburgh next June.

"Stonewall will be working with LibertyPA to defeat Santorum and the right-wing agenda," says Stern. The Stonewall Convention slogan is "Where Warhol Began his Career — We'll Help Rick End His."

Sharif Street stopped up on the deck and said he plans to run for office next year. He might make another run against state Rep. Frank Oliver.

Street, scion of Mayor John Street, also said his father could run for a U.S. House seat after his second term ends as mayor if either U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah or Brady wins. "My dad has houses in both districts," he said. "Fully furnished, too."

Street added that his father is also looking at possibly taking the top position for a national civil rights organization such as the NAACP.

Developer Gagan Lakhmna and his associates hosted a party last Thursday in honor of their four new proposed condo projects. Guests filed into Creating Real Estate Innovation's Northern Liberties office to view plans and designs for each condo. Samples of the bathrooms and kitchens were in the office. (Tip for potential buyers: The stainless steel countertops might scratch quickly.) After the tour, partygoers were sent to the lot next door where a large tent was set up with an open bar and butlered hors d'oeuvres.

Condos at the Nouveau at Front and New streets in Old City start at $500,000; those at the 101 Walnut St. development are the most expensive, starting at $1.7 million. The Walnut Street building will likely cause controversy because of its huge scale in a historic neighborhood. Trying to create some value for the community, they plan to house a Civil War museum on the first floor. (Why they think there would be interest in a museum about the Civil War in an area devoted to the Revolutionary War is anyone's guess.) The American Loft and Northern Life buildings in Northern Liberties are priced from around $200,000.

As the Klehr Harrison firm has been retained for some of the zoning work, über-zoning attorneys Carl Primavera and Darwin Beauvais were both in attendance.