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Posted on Fri, Jul. 16, 2010


Clout: In Philly, City Council interest draws familiar crowd

By Chris Brennan
Philadelphia Daily News

PHILLYCLOUT'S handy election calendar shows the May 17, 2011, primary is just 10 short months from tomorrow. With no time to spare, pols across the city are positioning themselves for a shot at that most august of legislative bodies, Philadelphia City Council.

And no surprise here: The lineup so far contains many familiar names.

Brady urges on Saidel

Is former City Controller Jonathan Saidel mulling another bid for office after failing to win the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor last month?

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the Democratic City Committee, said he has encouraged Saidel to consider running in Northeast Philly's 10th District, which has been represented by Republican Brian O'Neill for 30 years.

"I told him he should look at it, absolutely," Brady told PhillyClout. "Jonathan Saidel needs to be an elected official. He would be a tremendous asset to the City Council."

A Saidel spokesman said he is "enjoying the practice of law" and has not made any decisions about future political moves.

O'Neill said he plans to run for a ninth term. Of Saidel, he said: "If that's true, I'm flattered. I think a lot of Jonathan."

Living at large

Longtime Brady associate Rich Subbio is reportedly considering a Democratic at-large bid for Council, which hasn't drawn a warm reaction from the party boss. Brady says he told Subbio he can't support him if he runs.

"I told him I'm supporting the incumbents," Brady said. "I told him, you do what you have to do. I'm not doing nothing behind the scenes."

And Brady said Subbio, who had been working for his congressional office, is no longer on his staff because he is weighing a run.

"I said you can't work and run for Council," Brady told us, stressing that if Subbio decides against running, he'll reconsider.

Subbio did not respond to a request for comment.

On the Republican side, state Rep. Denny O'Brien is considering an at-large run for Council. O'Brien, who is running unopposed for the 169th state House district in Northeast Philly, was first elected in 1976 and served as speaker in 2007 and 2008.

"I guess I would say that, unless there is an intervening act like I become speaker of the House again, that it's something that I'm interested in," O'Brien said.

DiCicco, Anastasio and DROP

It looks as if there's more than one candidate interested in the Council seat held by Frank DiCicco.

Attorney Vern Anastasio, who has unsuccessfully run against DiCicco in the past, sent an e-mail to supporters last week expressing his interest in the seat.

But Anastasio's message was a little slippery - he's raising money, but said he'd only run if DiCicco didn't, noting DiCicco's enrollment in the controversial DROP retirement program.

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Comments   
Posted 07:38 AM, 07/16/2010
emoney
Our two Republican At-Large Councilmen, Frank Rizzo and Jack Kelly, have enrolled into the ethically questionable Deferred Retirement Option Program. The expectation is that they will retire after their term expires in 2011. As participants within DROP, Frank Rizzo is scheduled to receive a payment of $188,873 while Jack Kelly receives $299,163...Elmer Money for City Council At-Large...http://elmermoney.com/
Posted 07:53 AM, 07/16/2010
gotawaythanks2Sethwilliams
If Corbett feels that way then he should arrest my coconspirator&I; now instead of waiting for to get my right to sue from the number3 at the Department of Justice.1way or another this wrong I helped commit will be rectified and Corbett the self described servant&protector; of the U.S Constitution should stop splitting hairs to Jose Cuevas justice.Oh I forgot,He's a Tea party republican who will once again place his boot on our necks like the republicans did the last time they were in power in Harrisburg.
Posted 10:18 AM, 07/16/2010
Echo
"I'm not doing nothing behind the scenes." Nice to see knowledge of the English language is not a prerequisite to being elected to Congress.
Posted 11:24 AM, 07/16/2010
Real Deal Philly
We are waiting to DROP DiCicco!!!
Posted 11:44 AM, 07/16/2010
philliestew
Someone needs to start a ballot initiative instituting term limits on city council. Otherwise candidates don't matter - the incumbent will remain in office for decades. Verna, Krajewski, O'neill et al have been in office LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE!!
Posted 05:11 PM, 07/16/2010
kjksrk
How about we start out fresh this time around?
Posted 07:05 AM, 07/17/2010
FJG JR
SICK OF THE SAME OLD NAMES? PICK A NEW NAME THE NEXT TIME. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.
Posted 08:15 AM, 07/17/2010
EastPhilly
Unfortunately when it comes to Bob Brady, you can't pick a new name. He is another one of those politicians that has a job for life. Re-election for him is just a formality.
Posted 06:36 PM, 07/18/2010
RightWingHypocrite
Vote out Blackwell. Only problem is that her constituency is entirely black so that won't happen.
9 comments
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