Clout | Hey, Philly celebs! You're owed some dough

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY!

When a company or bank can't find the owner of an unclaimed check or goods, it winds up with the state treasurer. For payroll checks, that's after two years; for other property, five years.

Since 2000 the treasurer has had a Web site, www.patreasury.org/search.htm where anyone can find out if there's something for them.

But Clout wonders if these companies try very hard to find customers to whom they owe money.

Take, for instance, one Edward G. Rendell of East Falls. United Savings Bank owes him a sum under $100 (amounts are listed only as above or below $100.)

United Savings could not find Rendell. Perhaps they knocked on his East Falls door when he was at the governor's mansion. So the money awaits him in the treasurer's office.

Coastal One, the financial-services company, had the same problem with John F. Street of North Philadelphia. There's a check in excess of $100 for him.

We could see not locating Milton, but the mayor? C'mon!

Also on the list: William Y. Giles of Villanova, chairman of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The treasurer holds a Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette "cash distribution" of under $100 for him. Our suggestion: Put it toward a decent reliever.

Drexel University couldn't find Georges Perrier, who runs a joint called Le Bec Fin. The treasurer is holding a Drexel check in excess of $100 for Perrier.

Former Channel 10 weatherhunk John Bolaris can pick up a check under $100 from NBC owner General Electric.

We can understand losing Bolaris, who's in New York now, but how can you not find Dawn Stensland of Fox 29?

She's owed less than $100 by the New York Times Co. under her married name of Dawn Mendte (hubby Larry Mendte of Channel 3 is owed nothing.)

WPHT-1210 Big Talker Michael Smerconish of Villanova has less than $100 waiting for him from the Tiffany Co.

We hope this represents leftover change from a Tiffany blue-box gift to Mrs. Smerconish.

Rendell and Street weren't the only hard-to-find pols, apparently.

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah is owed money by both the state employees credit union (from his days in the Legislature) and Peco. In each case, it's under $100.

Underdog Republican mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger has some leftover change from a stock that went bad, International Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., which owned the late, great Garden State Park. There are a couple of other checks for him too, all three under $100.

"Wow, I didn't know that," Taubenberger said yesterday. "I'm in a position where I need every penny I can raise so I'm going to pursue it."

Clout-created celebrity Flavia Colgan is on the list. She's owed more than $100 by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. for her former talking-head stint on the Fox Network.

Colgan is in Hollywood developing TV shows and, while Murdoch couldn't find her, we found this Internet photo of her on the beach at Malibu.

State Treasurer Robin Wiessmann said the office eventually auctions off unclaimed items - including on eBay - but some things are kept for their historic signifcance.

"We have an acknowledgement from Jackie Kennedy of a condolence note [after President Kennedy's assassination]," Wiessmann said, "and a land patent signed by Benjamin Franklin."

Also in the treasurer's vault: baseballs autographed by Honus Wagner and Willie Mays.

Nigro headed for a win

Former state Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro, you may recall, was whacked by voters in a 2005 retention election because Chief Justice Ralph Cappy originated the secret legislative-judicial pay raise.

Cappy wasn't on the ballot, so Nigro paid the price.

But he looks headed for a victory next week, when Philadelphia's board of judges will fill a vacancy on the Board of Revision of Taxes.

That's the board that assesses the value of your house and, thus, impacts your property taxes.

Democratic Party chairman Bob Brady sent a letter last week to the judges supporting Nigro. Sources say local judges, who benefited from the state pay raise, are inclined to agree.

Nigro would replace Dveral Silberstein on the BRT. She resigned when her husband, Alan Silberstein, was appointed.

Casinos: Hit me?

More than the camel's nose is in the tent.

Even before slots are up and running - even amid investigations and controversy around the current gambling licenses . . . there's a bill in the Legislature that would expand gambling.

The bill to legalize table games like roulette and blackjack quietly got dropped into the hopper July 14, right after lawmakers broke for summer recess.

There are about 20 sponsors, including Philly veteran Rep. Frank Oliver. The prime sponsor is House Democratic Majority Leader Bill DeWeese.

The bill's number? HB 2121.

Tasco-Blackwell battle brewing

City Councilwoman Marian Tasco, majority whip, is considering a move up the ladder.

That would mean a challenge to Democratic Majority Leader Jannie Blackwell for the second-most-powerful job in Council.

Over the last few years, the two have squared off in some pretty heated arguments.

Tasco is generally critical of the Street administration with Blackwell often supporting Street. At times it has seemed to get personal.

Tasco isn't talking about the challenge, but Blackwell says she knows about it.

"I've already talked to [Council President Anna Verna] and said that I was going to go along with the status quo for the sake of harmony."

That in itself is a major departure because Blackwell, for the last two years, has not discouraged speculation that she would challenge Verna.

Thanks to annual cost-of-living increases, Council's salary is just shy of $110,500, but the leadership posts pay more - the majority leader makes $118,400, the whip $116,100 and the president $138,700.

If Tasco makes her move, Councilman Wilson Goode says he'll try to get her old job.

It's also rumored that Councilman Darrell Clarke is interested in the whip position, but he says such talk is "premature." *

Staff writers Gar Joseph, Mark McDonald and John M. Baer contributed to this report.