Clout | Two years from now, who'll be D.A.?

FORGET the mayor. Forget the president. Let's jump to 2009! For the first time in nearly two decades, there will be an open seat for district attorney.

Lynne Abraham, 65, is retiring. She was the first woman elected D.A. (after being appointed in 1991, then elected in 1993). She is the longest-serving D.A. in city history. She's one of the most well-known and popular elected officials in the city.

Who might succeed her? Here's a rundown:

Seth Williams. The city's inspector general gave Abraham her toughest contest in the 2005 Democratic primary, winning 46 percent of the vote.

But City Council is in the process of beefing up the IG's office. Williams gets a bigger budget and salary, more job security and more responsibility - including eyeing corruption on Council.

Won't he be tempted to stay where he is?

"The job I have now is a great job, and I think we can make it live up to the expectations of it as a detererrent to coruption." Williams said yesterday. "We've taken an office few had heard of and now are scared of."

But he added that ever since he joined the D.A.'s office as a young assistant in 1992, "my goal has been to become D.A."

His eye, he said, "is still on the prize."

Judge C. Darnell Jones. The president judge of Common Pleas Court ran a strong but losing race for nomination to the state Supreme Court last month.

He was endorsed for the high court by Gov. Rendell. The Guv, a former D.A. himself, would have big influence in the D.A.'s race, and some have urged Jones to run.

Jones says he's "flattered and honored," but not close to deciding his next step.

"I'm too busy with the wedding," laughed Jones, whose daughter, Sheinelle Jones, co-host on Fox 29's "Good Day Philadelphia," is getting married in September.

D.A. may not be the choice, though, as Judge Jones confesses that being on the state Supreme Court is "something super-significant to me."

Other big names:

Kevin Dougherty. The administrative judge of Family Court has been carving out a good rep separate from his better-known brother, electricians union leader and Democratic power broker John Dougherty.

Dan McCaffery. Another brother act. He's lawyer and brother of Superior Court Judge Seamus McCaffery, who won the Democratic nomination for Supreme Court that Jones sought.

Rayford Means. Veteran Common Pleas judge who is considered the most likely of C.P. judges to make a run for D.A.

Jonathan Saidel. The former city controller quit to run for mayor, then dropped out. It is impossible to imagine Saidel out of politics for long, and this is an office he considered in 1999, when it appeared Abraham might leave to run for mayor.

Dan McElhatton. The former city councilman is also a former assistant D.A. and has expressed interest.

John Delaney and George Mosee. Top aides to Abraham, these are the in-house candidates. Delaney is chief of major trials; Mosee is chief of the juvenile division.

Abraham will be stepping down but not retiring, says Eleanor Dezzi, her political adviser.

Abraham will surely take an interest in a potential successor to continue the programs she initiated including gun court, DUI court, drug court and the gun-violence task force.

But, said Dezzi, with the election still two years away, Abraham has given no thought to endorsing a successor.

Carlos is back - for awhile

Carlos Matos, the Democratic leader of North Philly's 19th Ward, was sprung from jail last week, after 49 days inside on a traffic violation.

City prisons spokesman Bob Eskin said Matos was released June 7 from the jail at 17th and Cambria streets after Judge Pamela Dembe vacated a 60-day sentence for his driving with a suspended license.

The good news is that Matos is home for Father's Day. The bad news is, it looks like he'll be sent off to the 70th ward (federal prison) before summer's end.

Matos is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge in August in connection with the Atlantic City corruption sting known as "Operation Steal Pier."

Matos pleaded guilty to bribing three Atlantic City councilmen.

One consolation: So many ward leaders have spent time in jail, Matos will have no shortage of expert advice.

The E Day worker blues

It happens every Election Day. Workers spend 14 hours handing out brochures and then get stiffed on the pay.

Take the case of Carol Sexton, who worked for City Council candidate Curtis Jones on E-Day to earn $250 to supplement her income as a bartender.

"I worked 17 hours that day and I just want to get paid for it," Sexton says.

She said that on election night, a large crowd of angry unpaid campaign workers stood outside the headquarters at 63rd and Lansdowne Avenue.

"They almost rioted," Sexton said. "They were banging on the door, trying to break it down."

Al Spivey, Jones' campaign adviser, promised that Sexton would be paid by the end of today.

"Everybody that we can verify as having worked for us will be paid what we owe them," Spivey said.

We also heard from a couple of people who worked for Council candidate Vern Anastasio and said they haven't been paid.

Anastasio did not return our call.

Nutter I: Sox or Phils

Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Nutter watched Monday night's Phillies-White Sox game with Gov. Rendell, who grew up a White Sox fan.

Rendell claims that he roots for the Phils first and the Sox second. Is that true, Mr. Nutter?

"Yes."

He probably has to say that.

Nutter II: FOB

Former president Bill Clinton, here for a Main Line fundraiser for wife Hillary's presidential campaign, huddled awhile with Nutter.

Forgetting the policy talk, Clinton was most impressed by this: Nutter was on the ballot in 1992 as a Clinton elector in the Democratic primary. Which meant Nutter was out circulating petitions way before Clinton became the favorite in the race.

"He was for Clinton when no one had heard of him," said Nutter spokeswoman Melanie Johnson.

Clinton was so pleased, he mentioned it in his speech at the fundraiser. *

Staff writers Gar Joseph, Mark McDonald and Wendy Ruderman contributed to this report.