Al Schmidt to Run for City Commissioner

**Joe_Doherty** · 12-08-2010, 03:30 PM

Al Schmidt is set to run for City Commissioner. I'm starting a new thread on this topic apart from the thread about the shenanigans in the Commissioner's Office.

Al Schmidt to Run For City Commissioner | Philly | 12/08/2010

**Hospitalitygirl** · 12-08-2010, 03:39 PM

Happy to see him do this.

Good luck.

**Joe_Doherty** · 12-09-2010, 09:45 AM

Al had a great press conference this morning. He outlined the rampant misuse of taxpayer funds and resources for partisan political purposes and how sitting Commissioners have turned a blind eye. The media were there, so I am sure that we'll see something soon.

**OldMaestro** · 12-09-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Joe_Doherty

Al had a great press conference this morning. He outlined the rampant misuse of taxpayer funds and resources for partisan political purposes and how sitting Commissioners have turned a blind eye. The media were there, so I am sure that we'll see something soon.

Good. That's great to hear.

Go Al! Good Luck.

**Illiniwek** · 12-09-2010, 12:26 PM

Glad to hear. Hope he learned the important lessons from his controller campaign and makes a serious run for the spot. He'd be a big improvement.

**Joe_Doherty** · 12-09-2010, 01:16 PM

Here's what the Daily News wrote about Al's press conference.

Citing "Culture of Corruption," Schmidt Seeks Commission Seat | Philly | 12/09/2010

**OldMaestro** · 12-09-2010, 01:44 PM

The comments are excellent.

**eldondre** · 12-09-2010, 02:42 PM

featherman is running as an R for mayor. seems like an improvement over Fat Al

**Dave** · 12-10-2010, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Joe_Doherty

Al had a great press conference this morning. He outlined the rampant misuse of taxpayer funds and resources for partisan political purposes and how sitting Commissioners have turned a blind eye. The media were there, so I am sure that we'll see something soon.

In this city, he might be better off bringing up the Marge Tartaglione quote where she calls the PW a "liberal paper"

Tartaglione: "Call us corrupt And I'll Punch You Out." | Philly | 12/08/2010

Hopefully Al will energize Philly's true R base (what's left of it), which I assume is what he's going for here.

Anyway, he's got my vote. Can't have the foxes running the chicken coup.

**Cya** · 12-10-2010, 01:28 PM

Who's the current R commissioner? Duda? Is he not running for re-election? Or are we going to see a Republican wardleader battle again?

**raider.adam** · 12-10-2010, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Cya

Who's the current R commissioner? Duda? Is he not running for re-election? Or are we going to see a Republican wardleader battle again?

Duda is running again. Rumor has it a total of 4 people will be running for that one seat. Two make it out of the primary and 1 get elected (unless both republicans beat the second place dem).

**OldMaestro** · 12-13-2010, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Duda is running again. Rumor has it a total of 4 people will be running for that one seat. Two make it out of the primary and 1 get elected (unless both republicans beat the second place dem).

WHo are the other 2 rumored? I do remember someone else announcing a while ago but I can't remember his name.

**Cya** · 12-13-2010, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Duda is running again. Rumor has it a total of 4 people will be running for that one seat. Two make it out of the primary and 1 get elected (unless both republicans beat the second place dem).

I'm not really familiar with what the R commissioner does. Has Duda not been doing a good job?
I know he's been around for a while.
I wonder if the RCC and wardleaders will support some new blood in this race.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 12-13-2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Cya

I'm not really familiar with what the R commissioner does. Has Duda not been doing a good job?
I know he's been around for a while.
I wonder if the RCC and wardleaders will support some new blood in this race.

He does whatever Marge tells him to do.

**OldMaestro** · 12-13-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

He does whatever Marge tells him to do.

And when he's not doing that, he's not doing anything. I heard he doesn't even have a PC in his office!

**raider.adam** · 12-13-2010, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by OldMaestro

WHo are the other 2 rumored? I do remember someone else announcing a while ago but I can't remember his name.

Chris Vogler seems to be seeking endorsement.

**Joe_Doherty** · 12-13-2010, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Cya

I'm not really familiar with what the R commissioner does. Has Duda not been doing a good job?
I know he's been around for a while.
I wonder if the RCC and wardleaders will support some new blood in this race.

The only reason RCC would support new blood would be to prevent Al Schmidt from making it out of the primary.

**OldMaestro** · 12-13-2010, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Joe_Doherty

The only reason RCC would support new blood would be to prevent Al Schmidt from making it out of the primary.

Yep. Which is exactly why Vogler would be rumored to run. (Thanks Raider.Adam)

**Joe_Doherty** · 12-13-2010, 01:40 PM

In light of the findings against Renee Tartaglione, this is terribly ironic.

"It gets better. To avoid any conflicts, the three commissioners step away from their duties in the year they are up for election. Retired judges are brought in to take their place.

Of course, the commissioners still collect their six-figure salaries."

Ringside: Dirty tricks in high-level places | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/12/2010

**OldMaestro** · 12-14-2010, 09:42 AM

I haven't seen anyone post this article from the Inky.

GOP's Schmidt to run to tackle Phila.'s 'corruption' | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/10/2010

They include e-mails and faxes from the offices of U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, Gov. Rendell, former House Speaker John Perzel, State Rep. Rosita Youngblood, and City Council President Anna C. Verna, among others. Some faxes also came from offices at the Parking Authority and the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Schmidt, who has led a group of rebels within the Republican Party who are seeking to replace Michael Meehan, the de facto head of the Republican City Committee, said the city commissioners, headed by Margaret Tartaglione, should have called attention to the situation.

"At best, the city commissioners are asleep at the wheel," he said. "At worst, they are turning a blind eye to corruption."

Tartaglione did not return a call seeking comment. Her office has been making headlines this week with revelations that her daughter, Renee, retired from her job as deputy city commissioner after the Board of Ethics found evidence that she participated in political campaigns, a violation of the Home Rule Charter.

On Wednesday, Margaret Tartaglione said, "It's over," when asked about her daughter and threatened to punch a reporter who continued to ask about it.

Schmidt said Joe DeFelice, who heads Philadelphia operations of the Republican state party, first found the evidence of use of government faxes for political purposes in 2008 and continued to document it in 2009. Schmidt said his candidacy, combined with the "train wreck" at the board's office this week, made this a good time to release the information.