Lawrence Farnese announced his intentions to run in the May Democratic primary against State Rep. Babette Josephs Monday afternoon with a call for change in the political profile of the 182nd District.

"There's no voice for the district," said the 37-year-old lawyer who practices at Klett Rooney and lives in Center City. The grandson of former school board head Andrew Farnese held his press conference outside the former Board of Education building at 21st Street and the Parkway. "Of course I'm not saying that State Sen. Vincent Fumo does not represent that district. I am running because I don't think our current representative is doing a good job."

His campaign will focus on increasing economic development in the district, which encompasses Center City, parts of South Philly and Grays Ferry. He wants to help small businesses get started with an affordable loan program offered by the state. "Education is a big issue for me," he added. "I would like to see trade schools for children who choose a career path other than college."

Josephs is formidable, having beaten two opponents, Andrew Hohns and ward leader Terry Gillen, in the 2004 primary. Two years earlier, Josephs defeated Hohns in a nasty battle. The 65-year-old was first elected in 1984. The 8th Ward always carries her. "I always do well in the 5th, 2nd and 8th wards," said Josephs. (Farnese says he has already contacted ward leaders about his intentions out of respect.) Josephs seems unfazed by the challenge, even though end-of-2005 campaign filings show she and Farnese in a similar fiscal situation (Farnese has $16,918 cash on hand to Josephs' $16,134). She said her work in Harrisburg and in the district's neighborhoods speaks for itself.

"I am not concerned about [backlash from] the pay raise. I voted for it because I think people understand the raise," said Josephs, who noted she will soon issue a press release explaining what she was going to do with money from the raise she is returning. "I have been busy in Harrisburg trying to stop the Republicans from suppressing the Democrats."

She explained that last week, House Republicans passed a bill—on a vote of 106-95—that would limit voters at polling stations. Without proof of extensive voter fraud, the GOP bill would force voters to show poll officials photo ID before they would be able to vote. House Democrats found the bill appalling.

Josephs, who headed the committee that organized Democratic opposition to the bill, said it would turn away the elderly and lower-income people who do not drive.

"The Republicans want to suppress the votes so Rick Santorum can win," said Josephs. "The American Center for Voting Rights, a right-wing organization funded by Karl Rove, is behind this, and in 2008 the Republicans want to use this for their presidential candidate."

The bill went to the Senate where it was kicked back to the House in a revised version—the ID would not have to have a photo. But Democrats still aren't happy.

U.S. Sen. candidate Bob Casey Jr. will be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) gala, to be held Feb. 18 at the Center City Marriott. The event marks the first time Casey will speak to such a large forum of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. The priority for HRC members is to defeat Santorum, but Casey will need money to do so. Prior to the main event, attorney and fundraiser Dan Anders and lobbyist and OutFront! founder Marty Sellers will host a fundraiser for Casey. Anders said he is committed to Casey, despite the candidate's well-known pro-life stance.

"I support women on choice but Casey has supported the community since he was the auditor general," Anders says. "He always had an anti-discrimination policy that includes gender."

Last Thursday, members of the Philadelphia Bar Association (PBA) bid farewell to their popular publicist Dan Cirucci, who's embarking on a new career with Vigorous, a public-relations firm he recently established, and as an adjunct professor of communications at Temple. The legal community filled the Conservatory in the Bellevue to fete Cirucci. One of the guests, Robert Lane, president of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, has left the firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius to become a co-managing partner of China Infrastructure Investment Partners (CIIP), a limited liability corporation he co-founded with Sam Katz. The corporation focuses on joint ventures with established companies in China.

Katz needs CIIP to be a success because a Delaware judge ruled in 2004 (in a decision upheld last year by the Chancery Court) that he owed his former business partners $2.1 million from a failed venture.