GOP names get early attention for at-large Council seats in 2011

It's never too soon to speculate about who may run for City Council in 2011, and these days there is an awful lot of speculation about the two at-large Republican seats.

The men who occupy them, Frank Rizzo and Jack Kelly, are both in the controversial DROP retirement program, and while Rizzo is widely expected to run again, there's far less certainty about Kelly.

"Yeah, people have mentioned it to me," former Republican State Rep. George T. Kenney said Friday about his interest in Kelly's seat. "I said that's down the road, and, you know, I'm not very seriously considering it."

At the same time, he added, "Jack Kelly is leaving. You never rule anything out."

Kenney said his main concern was preserving one of the at-large seats for someone from the Northeast, where Kelly and he hail from.

In addition to Kenney, whose day job is vice president of government programs at Temple University, at least two other prominent Republicans may fill the bill.

One of them, State Rep. Dennis O'Brien, a former House speaker and leader of the 57th Ward in the Northeast, didn't return a call.

The other, former mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger, said a possible run was certainly on his mind.

"I think I have the experience and temperament to be a good councilman," he said. "It's something that would interest me."

Besides having a "chat" with his family and his employer, the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce, Taubenberger cited one other potential obstacle: Kelly, who employs Taubenberger's son, Matt, as a full-time aide, "is a good friend, and I would never, ever, ever run against him."

Republican David Oh of Southwest Philadelphia, who ran twice before for an at-large seat, is also expected to run.

For the record, Kelly's spokesman, John Cerrone, said the councilman had not made up his mind. - Marcia Gelbart and Jeff Shields

Many of Mayor Nutter's top staff and aides huddled in a conference room on the 16th floor of the Municipal Services Building all day Thursday and Friday, discussing a subject that seems to have gotten sidetracked for much of the year: government reform.

Breaking into 12 teams, the staffers, along with business leaders, pitched their ideas for saving money, generating money, and increasing efficiency throughout City Hall. It's a project that has been in the works since December.

Part of the point of the "Reform Team Summit," which was closed to reporters and the public, was to hear feedback from review panels that included City Council members, the Economy League, the Committee of Seventy, the William Penn Foundation, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and members of Nutter's campaign transition team.

So what "reforms" were put forth? That's under wraps, at least until the Mayor's Office presents them this month or next.

Although it's unclear how big or small these proposals will be, whatever their size they will give Nutter an opportunity to show voters he has not forgotten his promise to shake up City Hall. Some political observers have been wondering about that very thing.

Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez, who attended some of the summit and had staff sit in for the rest, said this about the sessions: "My freshman colleagues and I are pleased that so many of our Freshmen 15-plus reform initiatives have been incorporated into their reform government plans." - Marcia Gelbart

The craziness that is the City Hall circle is about to get a new watchdog: the beloved red-light cameras, whose click can cost you $100.

Six cameras will govern two hectic, three-way intersections heavily used by pedestrians: the east entryway to City Hall at Market Street near Macy's, and the north entrance at Broad Street and JFK Boulevard.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority, which runs the red-light program, should have the cameras up and running today or tomorrow, PPA spokeswoman Linda Miller said.

A 60-day warning period would then start Friday. Drivers caught blowing through red lights during the first two months will receive only a warning letter. After that, it's a $100 fine. Cameras watch 13 other intersections, and four others are on the way.

This year, Councilmen Frank DiCicco and James F. Kenney sponsored legislation that made the cameras possible. They said the intersections were dangerous. We at "Heard in the Hall" are undecided whether to thank them. - Jeff Shields