Peggy Gives Chase

Oh, no, Babette: Another candidate enters the scrum for Josephs' job.

by Mary F. Patel

Last week's column focused on state Rep. Babette Josephs' re-election race next year and her Democratic primary opponent Larry Farnese, an attorney who is trying for the second time to take her seat. Apparently, Josephs' job is so desirable that another candidate has entered the picture: Peggy Banaszek, a Democratic committee member in the 5th Ward.

Banaszek took issue that she was left out of [Political Notebook, "Chasing Babs," Dec. 20, 2007], saying she been campaigning since last January and is the only candidate in the race who supported Michael Nutter for mayor in May and is not tied to the "old political culture."

"My community involvement, professional experience and education qualify me to be state representative," she says. "My neighbors support my candidacy because they want a qualified candidate who will bring a fresh, practical approach to Harrisburg. As a project manager for insurance companies, I am very knowledgeable about medical insurance issues, especially Medicare."

Banaszek added that her experience as a member of her condo board, her involvement as a member of the Casino-Free Philadelphia media team, the Center City Residents Association and the Wash West Civic Association, as well as her work with the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children qualifies her for the House seat.

"I wanted to get back into politics," said Banaszek, referencing her experience as p

resident of Mount Holyoke College Democrats from fall 1993 to spring 1994.

She said the bulk of her support is coming from her neighbors and that she is part of the Philly for Change crowd, the group the frowns upon the political machine.

"Larry Farnese claims he is a candidate for change but he is part of the old political culture because [U.S. Rep. and Democratic City Committee Chairman] Bob Brady is his campaign chair," she said.

But Brady is not Farnese's campaign chair: He is on Farnese's campaign committee. Farnese's actual campaign manager, Renee Gilinger, said that Brady has a consistently liberal voting record in the House and that Nutter supports Brady's re-election.

Banaszek also has government experience, having worked pro bono for Councilman Juan Ramos on some budget issues. The problem? Statistically speaking, when three candidates are in a race, the incumbent usually wins.

This and That

Chaz and Nina Breslin hosted a Survival/Birthday Party for Annie Karl last Wednesday night at their Rittenhouse Square home to celebrate her two years of being cancer-free.

Karl, special assistant to Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll in her Southeastern office, was diagnosed with breast cancer and after treatment and breast reconstruction surgery, is now fully recovered. The party was billed as a girls-only event, but three men were there: Chaz, restaurant and nightclub owner Larry Cohen and Marine-turned-investment banker Bill Dahm.

A bathtub was filled with ice and bottles of Mumns and Veuve Cliequot champagne, (women and champagne are a dangerous combination). Guests included Justine Brown, Gov. Ed Rendell's receptionist, and Erin Murphy, one of Rendell's special assistants.

Karl, who worked for Rendell when he was mayor, said she decided to go public with her breast cancer because she wanted to inspire other women who have had the same experiences. A special guest was Noreen Sanchez, Karl's nurse at University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

Baker Knoll did not make the party as she is preparing for the annual Renaissance Weekend at Hilton Head, where public policy and personal vulnerability come together over golf. Baker-Knoll will be hobnobbing and networking with the likes of the Clintons, the Starbucks hierarchy and other luminaries.

George Burrell, the former aide to Mayor John Street, is busy with wedding plans. Burrell is engaged to Janis Pierce, a deputy city representative who is currently involved in some of the transition work for incoming Mayor Nutter.

Burrell was formally the CEO for Innovation Philadelphia after he left Street and is now helping to run PRWT Services, a labor management company. The wedding is planned for April 9.

Ross Wolfe, Republican committeeman in the 27th Ward, has made the dean's list this semester at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He is following in the footsteps of his brother Jay Wolfe, a Catholic University graduate, multiple dean's list student and also a GOP committeeman in the 27th Ward. Their dad, Matt Wolfe, is the Republican ward leader and the author of the very interesting University City Trumpet Online, an online newsletter on all things Republican.

(rcpatel@aol.com)