Northeast ward leaders back Margolies but their focus is on Boyle

THE ENEMY of my enemy is my friend, an ancient proverb, is still a current political strategy.

Consider the news release issued to reporters more than once in the last week by former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Margolies.

Margolies, who lives in Montgomery County and held the 13th Congressional District seat for one term from 1993-95, was announcing that five Northeast Philly ward leaders have endorsed her bid to retake her old job.

Half of the 13th U.S. District is in Montgomery County, the other half in Northeast Philly.

More than a third of the news release's 474 words were aimed squarely at state Rep. Brendan Boyle, who represents a Northeast Philly district and is running against Margolies in the May 20 Democratic primary election.

The release quotes 66B Ward Leader Mike McAleer and 56th Ward Leader John Sabatina Jr. slamming Boyle for seeking a fourth term in the state House while also running for Congress.

What it didn't say:

Boyle and his brother, state Rep. Kevin Boyle, built a political operation in Northeast Philly by going around the ward structure rather than working with it.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the city's Democratic Party, endorsed Boyle last April but hasn't exactly been pulling out all the stops to help get him elected.

Brady's political team, including consultants Ken Smukler and D.A. Jones, worked for Margolies in previous campaigns and is running her campaign now.

So there's that.

There are two more things to consider about the district, which may be good news for two other Montgomery County candidates in the race, state Sen. Daylin Leach and Dr. Valerie Arkoosh.

First, ward leader endorsements have more juice in low-voter -turnout elections. But this primary will include a Democratic field for governor well-stocked with candidates from southeastern Pennsylvania.

A front-runner: U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, the holder of the 13th District seat. So voter turnout should be strong.

And second, the entire district has a strong Democratic registration edge, about 59 percent compared to 28 percent Republicans and about 12 percent independents or third-party voters.

About 53 percent of the district's Democrats are in Philadelphia while 47 percent live in Montgomery County. But the Montgomery County Democrats voted in larger numbers than their Philly counterparts in the last three primary elections. So they're more reliable in turnout.

In short: This is Clout's favorite kind of election because we don't know who is going to win.

John Fritz, a Northeast Philly businessman, on Tuesday was the only candidate declared for the 13th District Republican primary. And he wanted company.

Fritz took to his Facebook page that day to declare that his party needs a contested primary.

"Good news, or be careful what you wish for," was the response from Carson "Dee" Adcock, who lost a bid for the seat to Schwartz in 2010.

Adcock, who lives in Abington and runs a plumbing-supply business, said he was telling Republican groups in Philadelphia and Montgomery County on Wednesday that he will run again.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Beverly Plosa-Bowser said she expects to announce her plans for the Republican primary sometime before the end of the month.

Former state Sen. Vince Fumo, back home in Philly since August after serving four years in federal prison on public corruption charges, seems to be getting ready for life after house arrest.

Fumo now has a LinkedIn.com page listing himself as chairman and CEO of Fumo & Associates.

That sounds to us like a lobbying firm. And sure enough, Fumo has joined three LinkedIn discussion groups that focus on state and federal lobbying.

Fumo isn't doing any talking with the media until at least February, when his term ends.

But already he's racking up LinkedIn recommendations from Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president Rick Bloomingdale, Philadelphia Republican Party general counsel Michael Meehan and state Rep. Mark Cohen.

It appears the LinkedIn page is a placeholder for a future endeavor, since the Pennsylvania Department of State doesn't currently list Fumo & Associates as a registered business or lobbying firm.