Fattah facing an uphill race in Washington

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah has two elections on his mind these days.

The first is his race to serve a ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives - which he seems certain to win on Election Day in November.

The second is far less predictable.

Fattah, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, is waging a campaign among his Democratic colleagues to win the post of committee chairman. His rival is Washington Rep. Norman Dicks, who has far more seniority on the panel.

To help him in this uphill battle, three Philadelphia politicians are hosting a fund-raiser for Fattah on Sept. 2 at the Center City law offices of Duane Morris L.L.P.

Two of the three - Mayor Nutter and State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) - ran against Fattah in the 2007 mayor's race. The third party host is State Sen. Anthony Williams, who, like Fattah, represents West Philadelphia.

"He should become chairman of Appropriations because with me positioned here, that would be a good thing for Pennsylvanians and the country," said Evans, chairman of the state House Appropriations Committee. "You never know if you don't run."

Of course, neither Fattah nor his rival will be named to the committee chairmanship if Democrats lose control of the U.S. House.

No predictions there.

- Marcia Gelbart

Who says there is no love in City Hall?

City Council, at least, is feeling it for former Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr. and his wife, Velma, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Friday.

Their son, Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr., put out a news release Friday saying City Council had passed a resolution honoring the Goodes for their half-century together.

"Whereas, the mutual successes of the Reverend Dr. W. Wilson Goode and Mrs. Velma H. Williams Goode are due in large part to their marital union on August 20, 1960," the resolution, signed by Council President Anna C. Verna, reads in part.

So happy anniversary, "Ma Ma" and "Pop Pop" - that's what the Goodes' grandchildren call them - from Heard in the Hall.

- Miriam Hill and Marcia Gelbart

When powerful Democratic ward leader Ralph Wynder decided to become a Jehovah's Witness, it meant he would have to give up his political position as part of that faith's teachings. But Wynder works by day as chief deputy to Philadelphia's patron saint of patronage, Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci, so he had a perfectly logical question: "Am I fired?"

Last week, Donatucci related the story with a laugh. Donatucci said he told Wynder, who holds a master's degree in eduction from Temple University and is a longtime community activist, that he was an invaluable part of the Register of Wills staff and, no, he was not fired.

But it could not have been easy for Donatucci, who is expected to run for reelection in 2011. Wynder, who expects to be baptized as a Jehovah's Witness as early as next year, said he approached Donatucci out of respect before giving up his ward leader's position in June.

"From a practical standpoint, he was bothered," Wynder said. "That would have been helpful to him; he has to continue to run for reelection."

But Wynder said he was impressed (and we couldn't blame him for being surprised) that Donatucci put the spiritual before the practical. "He honored my feelings, my spirituality, and indicated early on that whatever decision I had, he would support me," Wynder said. "I was highly impressed with his sensitivity to my spirituality."

And Wynder was sensitive to Donatucci's political needs. So he introduced him to Mark Green, the new leader of the 38th Ward, which encompasses East Falls and part of North Philadelphia.

Perhaps more importantly, Green supported Wynder's keeping his $87,500-a-year job. Wynder had made sure an ally was in place with one final political move - he ran for Democratic committeeman in May and won, then hung around long enough to support, and then vote for, Green in June.

- Jeff Shields