Forget state House race - Farnese to take on Fumo

After a week of indecision whether to run for the state House or the Senate, attorney Lawrence M. Farnese Jr. is going for the bigger prize, the Senate seat now held by Vince Fumo.

A source close to the campaign said last night that Farnese will drop his run against state Rep. Babette Josephs and join the campaign against Fumo and two other challengers for the Democratic nomination - electricians union leader John Dougherty and anti-casino activist Anne Dicker.

The primary election is April 22. The unopposed Republican candidate is Jack Morley.

Farnese, 39, ran a strong race against Josephs two years ago, losing the mostly Center City House district by 237 votes. The Senate district includes much more of South Philadelphia, where Farnese has strong family roots, and extends north into Fairmount, Northern Liberties and Fishtown.

Farnese's grandfather, Andrew, was a longtime School Board member and became board president in 1995, with Fumo's backing. Farnese's uncle used to be principal of South Philadelphia High School.

Farnese's departure from the state House race leaves Josephs facing Peggy Banaszek, 35, a former insurance project manager from the Washington Square West neighborhood, and Bobby Gormley, 34, a community activist from Grays Ferry who works for Dougherty's union. *