Region's Business, Philadelphia 13 September 2012

COMMUNITY BANKS VS. DODD-FRANKCENTER CITY JOBS FOCUS OF REPORT

SEPARATE SUITE ADDS PRIVACY TO ESTATE

A JOURNAL OF BUSINESS AND POLITICS

Sliding poll numbers have some thinking a strong Democratic candidate (Sen. Bob Casey?) can unseat him in 2014, but history paints quite a different picture.

REGION’S BUSINESS

RegionsBusiness.com

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PHILADELPHIA EDITION 13 SEPTEMBER 2012

TOM CORBETT’S MID-TERM IMAGE BATTLE

NUTTER’S PATH TO D.C. NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR

LESSONS LEARNED FROM EMPLOYEE TO CEO

CONVENTIONS LACK FLAIR, RELEVANCY

3REGIONSBUSINESS.COM13 SEPTEMBER 2012

24

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PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER James D. McDonaldEDITORIAL DIRECTOR Karl M. SmithASSOCIATE EDITOR Terrence CaseyCONTENT TEAM Brandon Baker, Emily DiCicco, Victoria MarchionyCONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Catagnus, Vinny Vella, Don LeeADVERTISING DIRECTOR Larry SmallacombeACCOUNT MANAGER Charles Coltan

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Polls May Not Be on Corbett’s Side,But History Certanly Is ! While a sinking approval rating has some thinking he’ll be vulnerable when he runs for re-election, the past paints quite a different picture.

Community Banks Feel Dodd-Frank Pinch Already! The Fed says much of the bill won’t touch small, community banks, but the banks’ executives have a different take on it.33

CONTENTS

4 REGIONSBUSINESS.COM13 SEPTEMBER 2012

Karl Smith is the editorial director for Region’s Business. You can contact him [email protected]

We’re still months away from November’s presidential elec-tion, with so much still up in the air. That doesn’t mean, though, that state politics are on cruise control.

Anything but.Recent polls have not been

kind to Governor Tom Corbett as he reaches the middle of his fi rst term. That has some, espe-cially in the state’s Democratic Party, smelling blood in the water. That’s some sense of smell, since we’re a full two years out from the next gubernatorial election.

Some dismiss this, especially given the history of sitting gov-ernor’s running for re-election. Then there’s the little matter of November’s election, where a win by Republican Mitt Romney would likely shut down Demo-cratic hopes of unseating Gov.

Corbett. Still, there’s plenty of room for

speculation, especially since these things take time to percolate. So Rebecca Catagnus took a deep dive into the subject. Her cover story o! ers a look at some of the potential challengers, as well as the historical hurdles any chal-lenger would face.

There’s a lot at stake in Novem-ber for state political junkies, including Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter.

His high-profi le speech at the Democratic National Convention put the cap on a political year that has seen him take a starring role on the national stage.

All of this, of course, gets people to talking, and most of the buzz points to Mr. Nutter eyeing up a move down I-95 to Washing-ton, D.C.

Emily DiCicco dug into this story and found that a November win by President Barack Obama isn’t exactly an automatic pass to the nation’s capital for Mr. Nutter.

Speaking of Washington, com-munity banks say they are feeling the impact of the Dodd-Frank bill, despite assurances from the Federal Reserve that the most burdensome aspects of the bill will not apply to them.

Vinny Vella talked with local bank executives, who have quite a di! erent perspective and say their businesses are suffering because of the legislation.

We’re excited to have more voices in our conversation this week, with op-ed pieces cen-tered on Gov. Corbett from Eric Boehm, a writer for the Pennsyl-vania Independent website, and Anastasia Przybylski, the co-chair

of The Kitchen Table Patriots and co-director of PA FreedomWorks.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on in this edition and plen-ty more in the works for the com-ing weeks. We have writes dig-ging deep into several key issues. We also have several intriguing Q&A subjects lined up.

I must confess, the Q&A is one of my favorite features; I love spotlighting interesting people and their projects. There are a lot of people making a lot of things happen across the Delaware Val-ley, and we strive to keep you up to speed on all of them.

Please keep the emails com-ing. The feedback has been most helpful, and many of the ideas are on their way to future editions.

Take it from state politicians: You can never plan too far ahead.

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Maintaining more than just a towering skyline, Center City serves as the breadwinner of Philadelphia’s many neighborhoods, contain-ing 38 percent of private-sector jobs in Philadelphia, according to a recent report by the Center City District.

Further emphasizing the importance of Center City’s presence in the city, its nearest neighbor, University City, hosts another 11 percent of these jobs. Per acre, there are 129 jobs in the proximity of Center City with a startlingly low four jobs per acre in the remaining, non-Temple and non-Navy Yard sections of the city.

And those living in other neighborhoods are likely to commute to Center City for their private-sector job, with 11 percent of those in Northeast Philadelphia trekking it to the sky-scraping depths of Center City and 20 percent of West Philadelphia workers making the central commute. Falling somewhere in the middle, 18 percent of Northwest Philadelphia inhabitants travel to Center City for work.

On the whole, the report represents a continuing decline of jobs in the city, a decline that Center City helps keep mitigated just enough to keep Philadelphia afloat.

To combat this, Executive Director of the Center City District Paul Levy has advised alterations to the tax structure of the city, specifically pointing out that business and wage taxes remain at an unsustainable rate for workers while property taxes are in need of an increase. The argument finds its roots in developing the rest of the city to be as transit-friendly and lively as the Center City many visitors and — as it turns out, employees — perceive to be the heart of the city.

The ongoing problem, based on the report, stems from the 193,000 residents who commute to the suburbs for work on a daily basis, which collectively makes up 42 percent of working Philadelphians. The number raises fear among those in the Nutter administration and City Council that this chunk of Philadelphian workers will inevi-tably opt to live in the suburbs, perhaps o!setting any growth seen as urban-loving Millenials move into the city.

Still, as Philadelphia’s school system continues to face increasingly impassable roadblocks, tax reform may be more of a long-term goal than the city’s immediate needs call for.

—Brandon Baker

ECONOMY

Center City Report: Inner City Focal Point

( B. KRIST FOR GPTMC)

The state drove $210.6 million last month in reve-nue from its 11 slot casinos, a year-over-year increase of 5.7 percent most likely witnessed as a result of the spring opening of Valley Forge Casino Resort.

According to the Gaming Control Board, Valley Forge brought in $4 million from its slot machines last month, making up for losses in Western Penn-sylvania caused by the opening of two new Ohio casi-nos opened in Cleveland and Toledo. Taking Valley Forge out of the equation, slot revenues still were up by 3.7 percent.

The region’s casinos — namely Parx, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Sugarhouse and Sands — all led the state with increases this month, with the Bethlehem-based Sands reporting a healthy increase of 14.4 percent since August of last year.

GAMING

Pennsylvania Slot Revenues Increase With New Casino

( VALLEY FORGE CASINO RESORT)

Atlantic City’s Golden Nugget casino reported a strong reception to its recently approved decision by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement to relocate three blackjack tables to an outdoor seating area of its resort.

The outdoor games first appeared just before Labor Day in another innovative attempt by area casinos to prevent expected losses in total casino revenue for the year, which currently is on target to fall by 7 percent compared to 2011’s $3.3 billion.

Atlantic City Casino Takes Table Games Outdoors

Retaining ownership but pushing forward with e!orts to outsource opera-tions, the New Jersey lottery met with four companies in Trenton last week to discuss taking over sales and marketing responsi-bilities.

The lottery system has evolved in recent years to become the eighth-largest state lot-tery in the nation, employing 150 people. In 2011, the lottery brought in $2.8 billion in revenue, a number the state is looking to further allocate to state programs and initiatives like education.

The New Jersey Treasury Department would penalize handlers if revenue sunk below the expectations of the state. Addi-tionally, a vendor would pay an up-front $120 million fee before signing a contract committing itself to the project for 15 years.

Scientific Games, Camelot Group, Intra-lot and GTECH Corp. are among the those

First Steps Taken To Privatize NJ Lottery

LOTTERY

Journal Register Co., a newspaper publisher operated by Digital First Media and rooted in Yardley, Pa., has filed for bankruptcy for the second time, announcing its intention to sell.

Alden Global Capital LLC a"liate 21st CMH Acquisition Co. made the first bite, o!ering to buy Journal Register’s assets.

A continuing free-fall of advertising revenue despite an increase in digital growth was cited as the primary rea-son for the publisher’s second bank-ruptcy, which follows a 2009 exiting of bankruptcy that still left the publisher encumbered by $225 million of debt — debt that Digital First Media CEO John Paton described in a news release as “unsustainable.”

Journal Register Files For Chapter 11 Again

MEDIA

The Temple Inside Out Prison Exchange Program, which started in 1997 when a local, life-sentenced prison-er suggested the idea, received a $4,000 grant from Bread and Roses.

Inside Out has professors specially trained to teach inmates in an intimate, roundtable-style environment.

Program Earns GrantHIGHER EDUCATION

More than 100 workers will be laid o! at Human Genome Sciences, Inc. as a result of new executive management from GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C., a Brit-ish drugmaker that acquired the company for $3.6 billion in July.

Glaxo has yet to comment on the estimated job loss for the Rockville, Md.-based life sciences com-pany that has o"ces in the Philadelphia area, but it insists that the integration of the businesses is an ongoing process.

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NFL

Eagles Energy Efforts Lauded

Green is more than just the Philadelphia Eagles’ team color, as it turns out.

T h e N a t u r a l Resources Defense Council and the Green Sports Alliance listed the Eagles as one of 20 green-energy leaders, announced at a time when the Eagles con-tinue working to ret-rofit Lincoln Financial

Field with energy pro-gressive solar panels, a natural gas generator and wind turbines that will be responsible for all of the stadium’s energy functions.

According to the council, the comple-

tion of the NRG Energy, Inc.-managed project will give the team o!-field bragging rights for having “the most extensive on-site renewable system of any U.S. sports sta-dium.”

FILM

Old City Hosts Premiere of Philadelphia-Set Movie

Philadelphia is primed to add one more Holly-wood film to its list: “Backwards,” which is Phila-delphia-filmed and stars James Van Der Beek and Haverford native Sarah Megan Thomas.

The movie will have a red carpet premiere at the Ritz East Theatre in Old City on September 21. Mov-iegoers can pre-order tickets online.

The debut will be preceded by an invite-only event held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Septem-ber 20 in celebration of the museum’s use in two scenes of the movie.

Haverford native Sarah Megan Thomas stands with co-star James Van Der Beek on the set of Backwards. (PDC)

BARTRAM GARDENS

New Leader Announced

Heralder of the Phila-delphia Green urban-greening program and Harvard graduate Mai-treyi Roy will become Bartram Garden’s execu-tive director after Louise Turan’s retirement.

Ms. Roy enters the new position having also formerly been senior vice president for programs at the Pennsylvania Horti-cultural Society, with her resume further bolstered by her experience as a landscape architect with the Boston Parks & Rec-reation Department.

Bartram Garden was founded in the 18th cen-tury by John Bartram, leading botanist of his era and largely known as the “father of American botany.”

Email Brandon Baker with business news tipsat [email protected]

University City Unveils New Pedestrian Plaza

The University City District has finished work on a pedestrian plaza located at 42nd Street and Woodland Avenue next to the University of Sci-ences, an area district o"cials hope will enliven what has been described as an otherwise “lifeless” area.

Designed and constructed by Think Green LLC, a landscape architecture and ecological design firm located in Glenside, Pa., the project is the first of many that Philadelphia has planned to rejuvenate gray, desolate areas of the city.

Next on the list: barren spread of asphalt on 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue.

DEVELOPMENT

Philadelphia-based Pep Boys saw its net income soar to $33 million — 61 cents per share — during the last quar-ter.

Year-over-year, shares have increased by 26 cents with net income figures previously standing at $13.9 million. Meanwhile, the company’s revenue rose to $525.7 million.

Hoping to extend its good fortune into the future, Pep Boys has also announced that it will start debt refi-

nancing in the near future, looking to cut debt by $100 million going forward.

Further emphasizing the company’s progress, it has hired David Stern as its new finance chief, replacing recent departee Ray Arthur.

STOCK MARKET

Pep Boys Revenue Up; Look to Cut DebtSix Flags’ Wild Safari

attraction will undergo changes that will rid the ride of its grassland-tra-versing family cars.

Renamed Safari Off Road Adventure, the attraction will feature what has been described as an “open air” vehicle that takes riders on a tour in a fictionalized setting to see 1,200 animals.

The original Wild Safari ride will close this fall and renovations will begin in the winter.

AMUSEMENT PARK

Six Flags Touts Improvements

Intact Vascular, Inc. has raised $15.5 million for a clinical study to be conducted in Europe testing a blood flow-improving stapling device intended for leg surgery.

Intact, located in Wayne, Pa., is a start-up dedicated to advanc-ing medical device tech-nology. The new project will be led by former CEO of Lutonix, Inc., and now Intact Chairman of the Board, Dennis Wahr.

“We are thrilled to have the financial backing of blue chip investors such as Quaker Partners and H.I.G. BioVentures,” said CEO Carol Burns in a press statement. “We are also honored that Dr. Dennis Wahr has joined the team. His proven track record with Kathy Crothall’s experience as a successful entrepreneur, highlights a seasoned, experienced team around the table.”

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Intact Vascular, Inc. Raises $15.5M for Clinical Study

(R. KENNEDY FOR GPTMC)


Having only recently risen from the “small business” label, national mort-gage lender New Penn Financial LLC has ascended to the big-league, inde-pendent ranks of the Inc. 500 at 310 on the prestigious list.

The company received recognition for not only surviv-ing through three brutal economic years, but also growing exponentially. Founded in 2008 during the height of the housing bust, the company still managed to grow to employ upwards of 900 workers — disqualifying it as a small business under the Small Busi-ness Administration standards — and producing revenues of $47.6 million in 2011.

The company has been praised for its customer-centric business platform and a!ordable rates with a plethora of mortgage needs offered with the mindset of consumers always taken into consideration.

“Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we’ve focused on putting customers in mortgages that best fit their situation,” said Rob O’Han, senior vice president of sales at New Penn Financial. “Growth is natural when you

put custom-ers first.”

New Penn Financial’s CEO, Bob Dubrish, has

previously been credited for the success story of mortgage company Option One Mortgage, which is a subsidiary of H&R Block, Inc.

As a growing company looking to capitalize on its newfound recognition, the mortgage lender has embarked on a hiring campaign by launching www.newpenncareers.com, a website designed to aid interested job seekers.

TRANSPORTATION

SEPTA’s Silverliner V Car Production DelayedA lack of essential parts

has kept SEPTA’s Silver-liner V cars from arriving by the end of September, as previously anticipated.

According to a SEPTA spokesperson, 110 of the expected cars have arrived thus far, with the remain-ing 10 outlying as a result of manufacturing prob-lems, e!ectively delaying the implementation of all 120 new cars until early October.

The production of the new cars, a South Kore-an-developed and largely South Philadelphian-built manufacturing e!ort by Hyundai Rotem Co., is already behind schedule by two years. The company faces a penalty of $200 for each day it is late in delivering the train cars.

The new cars were originally decided upon in 2006 following mass complaints of overcrowding in SEPTA’s regional rail cars, particularly in the Silverliner II and III trains that date back to the 1960s.

(SEPTA)

WEEKLY BRIEFING

BUSINESS PROFILE

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MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS

Allentown Phantoms Arena Delayed, Bond Rating Lowered

T h e L e h i g h Valley-located, 8,500-seated hockey arena for the AHL Phantoms team has reached a hurdle in its road to construc-tion, being delayed from an anticipated fall 2013 release to a fall 2014 release — the earliest estimate for the project’s completion.

The news broke as prospective buyers of arena-funding bonds were presented with the new estimated time of completion of August 1, 2014 while looking into buying bonds that fund a new o! ce building and hotel project at Seventh and Hamilton Streets in addition to the arena itself.

The Allentown arena, devised in

2010 following the purchase of the Phantoms by The Brooks Group, is expected to cost the city upwards of $450 million. As of late last year, The Brooks Group has signed a 29-year lease with the city, keeping the team in Pennsylvania for the foreseeable future.

Moody’s Investor Services has given

The state of the economy is stronger, but not necessarily strong, according to a quarterly report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The bureau reports that, among the 50 states, Pennsylvania falls somewhere in the middle in terms of states that have economically rebounded, regaining 57 percent of its jobs lost since January 2007 — slightly higher than the number of jobs regained nationally, which stands at 4 million following a total loss of 8.8 million.

Pennsylvania’s steady increase is attributed to a natural gas boom in Pitts-burgh, o" setting the crippled budget of Philadelphia which otherwise bogs down the state’s economic prospects.

Pennsylvania joins states like Florida and North Carolina in gaining 1.6 to 1.9 percent in the two-year period between second quarter 2010 and second quarter

ECONOMY

Report: Pa. Regains 57 % of Lost Jobs

Some frequent fl iers on US Airways, Delta, United, American and Alaska airlines are now able to pass through security at the Phila-delphia International Airport faster, and they can keep their shoes on their feet.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that, effective Wednesday, Terminal C allows some passengers to board more easily.

Members of frequent fl ier groups for the aforementioned carriers can give their personal information to the airline ahead on the fl ight. These indi-viduals will then be pre-screened by the Transportation Security Admin-

istration.This information is then saved on a

bar code located on a traveler’s board-ing pass, the Inquirer reports.

Passengers can also visit globalen-try.gov to apply to become a “trusted traveler.”

TRANSPORTATION

Some Passengers Will See Faster Screenings at PHL

(PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT)

GASOLINE

Local LukOil Stations Raise Prices in Protest

More than 50 di" erent LukOil fran-chise owners in Pennsylvania and New Jersey raised the price of gas to more than $8 per gallon Wednesday in pro-test of the com-pany’s pricing policies, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported.

Dealers of the Russian-based company pay up to 20 cents more than their com-petitors, Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline Convenience-Automotive Association, told The Star-Ledger. Then, they are forced to raise prices on their customers.

The price hike was expected to last less than 24 hours.

GAMING

Harrah’s Philadelphia Sues Fattah’s Son

Chaka Fattah, Jr., the son of a U.S. representative has been sued by Harrah’s Philadelphia for submitting checks val-ued at $16,000 that bounced, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Philadelphia Federal Credit Union has also fi led a suit against Mr. Fattah for more than $17,000 he allegedly owes on a loan.

DEVELOPMENT

Union leaders and the owners of the Goldtex Building are in discussion about involving the union in development of a new project after U.S. Representa-tive Bob Brady brought the two sides together, The Philadelphia Daily News reported Wednesday.

Construction of a 21-story office building on South Broad Street could involved union labor, but there are no agreements yet, according to the report.

Michael and Matthew Pestronk, who have been avoiding using union labor at the Gold-tex Building construction site, met with union leaders and Rep. Brady last week for more than two hours at the Metal Workers Union Hall.

UNIONS

Union Pauses Protests Outside Goldtex Building

Brady

Toll Brothers Plan: Condos, Townhouse on South Street

Toll Brothers plans to build 68 town-houses and 59 condominiums on the 2400-block of South Street, The Phila-delphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.

In addition, Toll Bros. will develop 2,400 square feet of retail space close to the homes.

Toll Bros. also plans on building 69 condominiums with a roof deck and a view of the Delaware River above a 110-car parking garage on Front Street, according to the Inquirer report.


EXECUTIVE BOOKSHELF

Disconnecting DigitallyHarvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow analyzes the life

of big-business executives who wield their Blackberry like a sword, never turning o! their inner worker bee and constantly remaining glued to the keyboard of their phone like teenagers discovering texting for the fi rst time.

Beyond the critical analysis, Ms. Perlow suggests some simple — mostly realistic — tidbits for keeping your cool in an era where 2 a.m. emails are commonplace and watching your child’s baseball game from the car as you take a conference call is the new norm.

Bringing like-minded individuals together for a therapeutic meeting of minds, Ms. Perlow’s own mind concocts a simple plan to balance your work life and, perhaps most importantly, your sanity.

“So if you are looking for a way to be more e! ec-tive as a manager, or team leader, turn o! your phone and read ‘Sleep-ing with Your Smartphone.’” – The Chronicle Herald

some simple — mostly realistic — tidbits for keeping your cool in an era where 2 a.m. emails are commonplace and watching your child’s baseball game from the car as you take a conference call is the new norm.

therapeutic meeting of minds, Ms. Perlow’s own mind concocts a simple plan to balance your work life and, perhaps most importantly, your sanity.

“So if you are looking for a way to be more e! ec-

@Bill_Gross

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WHO TO FOLLOWWHO TO FOLLOW

GOTTA HAVE IT GADGET

Taking cues from Nintendo’s playbook, Sony has evolved the standard concept of the tablet by introducing a second screen in a fold-down, clamshell design.

Aside from being innovative with two screens able to oper-ate separate functions at once, the Sony Tablet P ($350) proves espe-cially convenient for travel, weigh-ing a surprisingly tiny half-pound and boasting 5.5-inch screens — just small enough to fi t in your pocket.

Sony Tablet P

Aside from being innovative with two screens able to oper-ate separate functions at once, the Sony Tablet P ($350) proves espe-cially convenient for travel, weigh-ing a surprisingly tiny half-pound and boasting 5.5-inch screens — just small enough to fi t in your pocket.

SwiftKey 3 ($3.99, Android), a souped-up version of the painfully inaccurate autocorrect feature programmed into most smartphones, is perfect for the fumble-fi ngers busi-ness pro who just can’t seem to take clean notes on a tablet or phone.

SwiftKey is designed to recognize common errors and highlight text with an up-close, cloud-like display of your text.

A true app of the future, SwiftKey 3 is even able to deter-mine your next word before you type it.

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WEEKLYBRIEFING


DEALBOOK

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

St. Joe’s University Purchases Archdiocese’s $10M Mansion

St. Joseph’s University announced Friday that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire the 8.9-acre property known as the Cardinal’s Residence from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for $10 million.

O!cials currently have no development plans for the property, which is contiguous to the university’s 48-acre Philadelphia campus.

The purchase will be funding by a combination of donor support and internal resources and is expected to be finalized in the next few weeks.

Photo courtesy of St. Joseph’s University

DEFENSE

Alloy Surfaces Lays Off 145 After Defense Spending Cuts

Chester Township-based Alloy Surfaces, the world’s only manufacturer of special material decoys, announced Sunday that it would lay o" 145 employees.

The company is being forced to almost halve their workforce after laying o" 120 employees last year, due to a decline in orders from the U.S. Department of Defense, which has projected an estimated $500 bil-lion in spending cuts over the next 10 years.

PA. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

PIDA Approves Business Loans To Help Create 124 New Jobs

The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Author-ity approved $4.76 million in low-interest loans to support three manufacturers in Allegheny, Bucks and Philadelphia counties. The companies plan to add at least 124 jobs and retain 433 jobs and have committed to investing an additional $7.87 million.

PIDA said it has signed o" on $26.3 million in low-interest loans that have helped support $66.2 million in additional private investment and 2,099 jobs in 2012.

LAW

Blue Bell Law Firm Expands to NCBlue Bell-based insurance law firm Nelson Levine de

Luca & Hamilton will open its first o!ce in the South-east region in Greensboro, N.C. on November 1 as part of an aggressive expansion plan.

The firm intends to recruit experienced attorneys through 2013.

STORAGE

Wayne-Based CubeSmart Buys 22 Additional Storage Facilities

In a recent deal with Storage Deluxe, Wayne-based storage company CubeSmart acquired 22 storage facilities for $560 million.

The transaction made CubeSmart the largest owner and operator of storage facilities in New York.

LAW

Philadelphia-based intellectual property and commercial litigation law firm Fox Rothschild announced it has opened a Denver o!ce with three Bryan Cave partners.

This location is the firm’s first in the Mountain West Region and 17th nationwide.

FOOD SERVICE

Cheesecake Factory Opening Will Create 268 New Jobs

Cheesecake Factory will open its eighth New Jersey restaurant Sep-tember 19 at the Quaker Bridge Mall.

The 8,600-square-foot restaurant will seat 293 customers and is slated to create 268 jobs.

It will join 173 other restaurants owned by Cheese-cake Factory Inc., including locations in King of Prussia, Willow Grove and Cherry Hill.

HOLIDAY GIFTS

CSS Industries Sells Halloween Portion to Gemmy Industries

Philadelphia-based maker of gift-and holiday-related items CSS Industries has sold the Halloween portion of its Paper Magic Group to Gemmy Indus-tries for an undisclosed price in order to focus on more profitable product categories.

CSS expects to incur pre-tax charges, net of pro-ceeds, of between $6 million and $7.6 million.


POLITICS

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett sits with Rear Admiral Janice Hamby during a visit to the state capitol. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO)

Governor Touts Transparency, Opponents Challenge Record

During then-Attorney General Tom Corbett’s bid for governor, he promised “100 percent transparency throughout state govern-ment.” One year later, that transparency is being debated.

The governor’s office claims that strides in Pennsylvania, such as the soon-to-launch Pen-nWatch — a website that makes government information more read-ily available — prove that transparency is increasing.

However, not everyone’s convinced.

Since Gov. Corbett was elected, the O!ce of Open Records, an inde-pendent o!ce that deter-mines which government

records fall under the Right to Know Law, has issued 175 record requests. (The o!ce has asked for information such as the resumes of the budget and education secretaries and a copy of the state consti-tution.)

Out of these requests, the Corbett administra-tion provided full infor-mation on only 11 and gave partial information for dozens of others.

Currently, the Cor-bett administration is in Commonwealth Court to appeal cases on a request for government-issued telephone numbers and email addresses of employees in the gover-nor’s o!ce.

ELECTION 2012

Pennsylvania: Swing State?It’s been debated all summer: Will Pennsylvania,

carrying 20 electoral votes, be critical to this Novem-ber’s presidential election? Recent actions from both President Barack Obama and Republican Governor Mitt Romney suggest that it will not be.

Pennsylvania pol i t icos were left out of both the Republican and Democratic Conventions. U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. was hardly spot-

lighted at the DNC. Similarly, former Governor Ed Rendell did not have a prominent role.

At the RNC in Tampa, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey was equally low profile. However, most notable was Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s absence from the convention stage.

Super PACs are following the trend. Liberal super PAC Priorities USA Action suspended its television and radio ads in Pennsylvania, and pro-Romney super PACs Crossroads and Americans for Prosper-ity have also pulled out of the state.

If Pennsylvania’s no longer a swing state, that leaves Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hamp-shire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin to decide the election.

ELECTION 2012

Trenton Mayor Arrested, Faces Corruption Charges

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack was arrested Monday by federal agents for alleged corruption and bribery.

The FBI had been investigating Mayor Mack and his brother, Ralphael Mack, along with convicted sex

o"ender Joseph Giorgianni since September 2010.

The agents claim that Mayor Mack was involved with bribery involving a fake parking garage created as a trap by the FBI.

According to court docu-ments, the trio received around $100,000 from pos-ing developers.

Investigators say that Mr. Giorgianni referred to this money by code to Mayor Mack and the mayor understood the reference when they called the money “Uncle Remus.”

Mack

7TH DISTRICT

Meehan Earns Support from Construction Union

The Philadelphia Council of Building and Construc-tion Trades, which represents 70,000 workers in Southeast-ern Pennsylvania, has thrown its support behind Republican Representative Pat Meehan, of Pennsylvania’s 7th District.

“Pat has been a leader on numerous issues important to our members, including saving the refineries and the dredging

of the Delaware River,” union President Patrick Gil-lespie told PoliticsPa.com. “These aren’t partisan or ideological issues — they’re common sense.”

The organization’s endorsement takes part of the labor vote away from Rep. Meehan’s opponent, attor-ney George Badey.

While the seventh district was a competitive race in 2010, Rep. Meehan has much more of an edge this year because of increased fundraising and redistrict-ing changes.

Rep. Meehan said he is “truly honored to receive their endorsement.”

Meehan

ELECTION 2012

Poll: Obama Leads in NJ, Romney Better For Economy

The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows President Barack Obama is in the lead over his challenger, Gover-nor Mitt Romney, in New Jersey.

President Obama has a seven-point lead overall. Also, 52 percent of voters view the incumbent favor-

ably, 43 for Mr. Romney.Voters felt Obama is the better candidate on Medicare

and health care, while Gov. Romney is the better candi-date on the economy.

The telephone survey of 1,471 likely voters was con-ducted from August 27 to September 2. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

HARRISBURG

Part-Time Schedule Sought for US’s Largest Legislature

The legislative calendar of the Pennsylvania’s Gen-eral Assembly, the largest full-time legislature in the country, has been debated for decades.

The question remains: Should Pennsylvania switch to a part-time legislature, like that of Maryland or Delaware, where legislators meet in one session of the year and work for the remainder of the year?

Pennsylvania switched to the full-time system after a commission determined that full-time operation would disenfranchise lobbyists and keep the balance of power.

Legislators will return in late September, only to take another break from mid-October until mid-January.

When out of session, legislative leaders spend their time working on items like bill drafts.

Republican Representative Bryan Cutler, of Lan-caster is the lead sponsor of a bill that make the leg-islature part-time, as it was before 1968, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In totality, the legislature is in session for around 60 days.


POLITICS

STATE

Jane Orie, the former state senator jailed for theft of ser-vices, conspiracy, ethics viola-tions and more, is appealing her 2 1/2-to-10-year jail

sentence, the Tribune-Review reported.

Orie was sentenced in June after being found

guilty of 14 counts, includ-ing theft of services, conflict of interest, ethics violations, tampering with evidence, forgery and conspiracy for using her legislative o!ce for political gain, according to the Tribune-Review.

Orie Appeals Jail Sentence

EDUCATION

Governor: Charter School Funding Plan a State Priority

Governor Tom Corbett hopes that once state legislators are back in Harris-burg, they’ll quickly tackle his proposed charter school reform.

“Certainly, the charter bill we were working on back during the budget, the funding formula that we were working on during the budget, I’d like to see us get that done,” Gov. Corbett said Monday, according to The Morning Call.

“I think the school districts would like to see us get that done because it would help them with their planning for the years ahead.”

Gov. Corbett’s proposed education policies have reduced funding to public schools and opened opportunities for additional charter schools in Pennsylva-nia, especially in areas of low academic performance, such as Philadelphia.

HARRISBURG

Two laptops and a video camera were stolen from the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee’s Harrisburg office in July, according to The Associated Press.

Police would not say why the incident was unreported for two months.

Democratic Office Burglarized

VOTER REGISTRATION

Welfare Offices Assisting With Election Registration

Of the 27,738 people served by the Department of Health through the WIC nutrition program, 16,406 said they are registered to vote. Of the 729 who took voter registration

applications, 162 turned in completed applications, according to a report filed by the state.

Monthly reports will be filed to track voter registra-tion through WIC.

ELECTION 2012

Casey Ads Turn NegativeAfter running a pair

of positive, self-promot-ing television advertise-ments, Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. has changed his tone.

His latest ad, “Cup of Tea,” attacks opponent Republican Tom Smith.

“Tom Smith is a Tea Party leader who has pushed a divisive, Tea Party agenda,” Campaign Man-ager Larry Smar wrote in a statement. “Tom Smith is in lockstep with the Tea Party and out of step with Pennsylvania.”


POLITICS

I KEEP HEARING ‘SNAFUS.’ LET ME SEE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE — THAT’S WHAT IT IS.’— GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT

VOTER ID

State Supreme Court To Hear Arguments on Voter ID Ruling

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hold a hear-ing Thursday in Philadelphia to begin weighing the decision that upheld the controversial Voter ID bill requiring voters to show ID in order to vote, e! ective this election.

Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson refused to grant an injunction against the new leg-islation in mid-August; opponents appealed imme-diately.

In order to overturn Judge Simpson’s ruling, a majority of justices would need to fi nd the law uncon-stitutional. A draw would allow the ID requirement.

REDISTRICTING

Opponents Take to Court Over State Redistricting

Republican leaders of the latest redistricting of Pennsylvania will defend the constitutionality of the plan against more than a dozen challengers in front of the state Supreme Court this week.

The state’s high court had rejected Republicans’ original plan in January, citing multiple concerns.

The writers of the plan say that the revisions have addressed those concerns.

Opponents claim the redis-tricting plan calls for twice as many

splits among districts as necessary, according to The Associated Press.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, a Repub-lican from the 9th District, said the plan “very clearly, very directly meets the direction and the require-ments laid out in the court’s opinion,” according to The Associated Press.

SECURITY

House Guards Lose GunsUniformed guards in the Pa. House of Represen-

tatives have been stripped of guns for the fi rst time in more than six years, according to the Associated Press.

Senate guards are not armed, and the area is within the jurisdiction of the Capitol police force.

TORT REFORM

Philadelphia Ranked Low for Litigation Climate

A survey of how business view litigation climates in various states ranked Pennsylvania 40th of 50, a record low in the Harris Interactive survey. The courts in Philadelphia are ranked as the fi fth-worst in the nation.

“The biggest problems in the Philadelphia court relate to lawsuits brought by out-of-state plainti! s,” Lisa A. Rickard wrote at www.instituteforlegalre-form.com. “It’s a general principle of the civil justice system that cases should be tried...where the injury occurred or where the plainti! or defendant resides.”

SPONSORED BY


POLITICS

CITY COUNCIL MATTERS

PICA OKs Five-Year Plan, Weighs City’s Fiscal Issues

The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Coopera-tive Authority (PICA) approved the Five Year Plan proposed by the City of Philadelphia. The approval has been largely an annual formality prior to this year, when the city was forced to revise the plan several times at PICA’s request. A rejection would have resulted in the withholding of millions in state and

federal funds.The plan details the city’s

fiscal state and projects its future revenues and expenditures.

Three major issues in Philadelphia were highlighted in the report: outstanding labor contracts, Actual Value Initiative (AVI), and business tax reform. City Council will have to confront these issues as it reconvenes.

PICA’s report claims “out-standing labor contracts are the

single largest short-term financial risk” since Philadel-phia does not include any costs for new contracts with the firefighters (IAFF) and two AFSCME units (DC33 and DC47). The IAFF recently won a well-publicized $200 million award through arbitration from the city, but, as the report critically points out, the city does not list this expense since it is appealing the award. Mayor Michael A. Nutter’s o!ce has been negotiating with some labor groups since 2009, and he has been under very public pressure from the unions appearing in protest at Philadelphia City Hall and other locations.

In the report, the property reassessment plan known as AVI is touted as a positive change from a policy standpoint, bringing fairness and maximizing revenue in the property tax system. However, the same issues debated by City Council all spring, which were mechanisms designed to ease the impact of AVI, threaten the constitutionality of the change. PICA claims there is risk until the city figures out how AVI will be implemented and whether it will be successful.

PICA recognized the mayor’s administration and council for their e"ort in business tax reform, which lessens tax burdens and hopes to make Philadelphia a more attractive location for businesses. The reforms provide limited exemptions to the oft-criticized gross receipts tax and business privilege tax. PICA com-ments that these changes are “arguably...the most significant economic development initiatives that the City is planning to implement in the next five years.” Following that comment, the report criticizes the plan for not discussing these changes in more detail, particularly with regard to projected losses in revenue.

Timothy Holwick is a freelance writer covering Philadelphia government. Find more coverage at citycouncilmatters.com and follow him on Twitter @CityCouncilBlog.

Holwick

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

TO MITT ROMNEY, EDUCATION IS A LUXURY. AS GOVERNOR, HE VETOED UNIVERSAL PRE-K. IN HIS FIRST YEAR, K-12 SCHOOLS SAW DRASTIC CUTS THAT LED TO TEACHER LAYOFFS. HE FAILED HIS STUDENTS.’— PHILADELPHIA MAYOR

MICHAEL A. NUTTER AT THE DNC

Mayor Michael A. Nutter, who has been supporting President Barack Obama this election, took the stage at the Democratic National Convention last week.

Mayor Nutter used campaign money to pay for his travel, but the city paid for five others to join him in North Carolina. Three police o!cers and two aides accompanied the mayor at a cost of up to $10,000, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Mayor’s North Carolina Trip Partly Funded By City

Two city council employees were arrested Saturday after allegedly driving under the influence in city-owned vehicles they were not authorized to drive.

Receptionist Robin Jones allegedly drove a 2008 Chevy Cobalt into a Center City building early Sat-urday morning. She was charged with a DUI on the scene. While Ms. Jones was still with the police, she called sergeant-at-arms Rodney Williams, who was also issued a DUI upon arrival.

Ms. Williams and Mr. Jones were o!cially notified of their termination Monday.

CITY COUNCIL

City Council Employees Fired After Facing DUI Charges

City Controller Alan Butkovitz released the FY2011 School District of Philadelphia Report on Internal Control and Compliance September 6, reporting that schools’ disregard for district procedures may be resulting in the loss of millions of tax-payer dollars annually.

The failure of school personnel to comply with procedures enu-merated in the district’s School Fund Manual resulted in a slew of discrepancies, including nega-tive balances for extracurricular activities and the compromising of payroll passwords.

A test of the $33 million weekly TransPass program revealed $9,545 in unaccount-ed passes in four schools over a one-week period, which could add up to millions if indicative of district-wide losses for the year.

“They have to pay attention to financial management and financial issues and account-

ability in schools,” Alan Butkovitz, city controller, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “If they don’t have the money, the wheels don’t go around.”

A signature is to be given by a district o!cial for each pass handed out to students, but the report found that 575 of 4,944 of distributed passes had no signature to verify their existence, putting into ques-tion the sustainability of the $33 million program.

A copy of the controller’s audit can be found at www.philadelphiacontroller.org

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Report: District Could Lose Millions to Mismanagement

ButkovitzMOSES WALKER SHOOTING

Fallen Officer’s Funeral Costs Covered By Philadelphia

The Nutter administration announced the intention of the city to pay for the funeral of Moses Walker Jr., a police o!cer killed in a robbery August 18.

Politicians and police o!cers argued the city waited too long before making its decision.

Protocol allows for up to four weeks before determining a police o!cer died in the line of duty, determining a $15,000 sum for funeral expenses and an unspecified separate amount awarded to surviving family members for pension benefits.Walker

A task force reported up to 200 people received meals outdoors daily in Philadelphia. It said Center City has 23 indoor locations serving nearly 1,900 meals a day that could serve 50 percent more with more resources.

The mayor said he plans to appoint a member of his administration to implement these recommenda-tions.

Mayor Appointing Staffer To Focus on City’s Homeless

CITY HALL

Email Emily DiCicco with political news tipsat [email protected]


POLITICS

Conventions Lack Flair, Relevance in Modern News Era

Traditionally Labor Day marked the beginning of the presidential campaign. The two politi-cal party conventions were long past, and the

ramp up to the fall campaign concluded. It was “game on.”No longer. Today, Labor Day is a marker on the stretch run of

a very long race. The party conventions are not over (the Democrats hadn’t even begun theirs this Labor Day) and the race has been at full speed for months.

The conventions no longer have the relevance they did in the era before the 24-hour news cycle. The days of “gavel-to-gavel” television coverage of the national conventions are a distant memory. In 2012 the major networks set aside just an hour each night for convention coverage, devoting the rest of prime time to reality shows and sitcom reruns.

The void created by the pullback of the legacy net-works has quickly been filled by cable news, video streaming online and a host of new media outlets. But the fact remains that the audience for conven-tions is declining. Although Barack Obama edged Mitt Romney in Nielsen ratings of their acceptance speeches (35 million to 33 million), neither candi-date matched their party’s final night viewership of four years ago.

Additionally the audience is aging. Nearly two-thirds of convention viewers are 55 or older. The shrinking and aging of television viewers of the political party conventions has been a trend for three decades.

Conventions are no longer suspense- and intrigue-filled events — it’s been more than 30 years since the last time a convention outcome was not clearly preordained. Yet the conventions still serve as a valuable (and expensive) platform to showcase the nominees and contrasting visions of the two major parties.

The contrast in 2012 could not be more stark. Both parties and their standard bearers agree that they represent diametrically opposite philosophies about the role and function of government.

With less attention paid to key events like the conventions and a deeply divided electorate, the neck-and-neck race will be decided by a small number of undecided “swing” voters. And those voters will reside in a handful of “swing” states.

It is increasingly evident that many of these unde-cided voters cast their ballots for Barack Obama four years ago and are disappointed and disil-lusioned now by the failures of his administration, especially in handling the economy. Mitt Romney, however, has not yet made the sale to these critical voters. His challenge remains to convince them that he has both the leadership qualities and the policy initiatives to get the country back to work and our economy back on track.

With less than eight weeks remaining, the focus on those voters has narrowed to a handful of states.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses the crowd at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. (JAYEL AHERAM)

In Ohio, Florida, New Hampshire, Virginia, Nevada, North Carolina, Iowa and Colorado, millions of dollars will be poured into television advertising in every media market. Voters there will see the candidates, their families and surrogates on a daily basis.

Sadly, at this point in the race, Pennsylvania is not among those key battleground states. It is the first time in a generation that we have not had that level of attention and spending lavished upon us. It’s bad news not only for television stations staring at unfulfilled revenue projections for the political cycle, but also for the hotels, caterers, rental companies and others who support the road shows as they roll through town.

Hopefully, that will soon change. Twenty electoral votes is a prize o!ered by only a few states, most of which (Cali-fornia, New York, Texas, and Illinois) are well cemented in one column or the other. Historically Pennsylvania has been a swing state, and the margins here have often been narrow (closer in 2004, for example, than the much bal-lyhooed margin in neighboring Ohio).

It’s distinctly possible that Pennsyl-vania will move up on the depth chart. Four years ago the McCain campaign made a relatively late decision to pour massive resources into the common-wealth. And while both the campaigns and most of the major independent expenditure operations have cut or dra-matically curtailed their television buys here, that could change very quickly. It is also possible that major independent expenditures could be focused in the Keystone State even if the campaigns themselves stay out.

There are a lot of mile markers remaining on the road ahead. Labor Day may no longer be the uno"cial beginning of the campaign here, instead serving as just another day in this era of the 24-hour news cycle — where a day is political eternity. The battle for the nar-row column of undecided voters in key states will resemble a ping-pong game, with the back and forth of messages, charges and counter charges. Let’s hope that Pennsylvania again gets to play host to a major part of the match.

Charlie Gerow is CEO of Quantum Communications, a Harrisburg-based public relations and issue advocacy firm.


IDEAS

I have been thinking about the lessons I’ve learned along my career path: lessons I’ve learned on my own and others that I’ve been taught by former colleagues and bosses. Those lessons have been both good and, let’s just say, things I never want to emulate or repeat. So I decided to share a compilation of lessons as they relate to running a successful business (no matter if it’s a law firm, marketing agency, accounting firm, public relations agency, etc.) Here are just a few things that I’ve learned along the way which have become guidelines that I try to live by.

Set up systems and templates. Systems need to be adopted from the start of a busi-ness lifecycle and updated and refined regu-larly. I have met with firms time and time again which do not use business management software but think they are ready for strate-gic business development and marketing initiatives. I have been known to tell them to think again about adopting an aggressive and strategic marketing strategy without founda-tional systems as the company will eventually implode.

It’s not about you. I’ve been heard saying this too. Marketing and public relations is not about stroking the ego of the professional seeking to be the next correspondent on a major news network – it’s about strategically, methodically, systematically and frequently reaching your target audience on their terms, where and when they want to be reached with the messages that they will hear and respond to. So if your target audience isn’t watching that network news program, the time and energy spent landing the spot isn’t going to

make that big of a di!erence. And if your tar-get audience could care less about your new product or take o!ense to the messaging and campaign, you’re dead in the water. Just look at Bic’s most recent product blunder with the “Bic Cristal for Her,” a pastel ballpoint pen that costs 70 percent more than identical regular pens and has been criticized as having “sexist labeling.”

Keep it real. Flattery and overkill may land the client but it certainly won’t create a foun-dation for a long-term business relationship. I remember meeting with a prospective cli-ent (executive director of a national nonprofit organization) who asked me, “What tickets to which major sporting events are you going to give me if we work with you?” My response: “None.” From that moment on, I wasn’t interested in the business because I knew the executive was always going to believe the grass was greener somewhere else.

It’s okay to say no. Business development is much like dating – you don’t always like or believe the other person you are interacting with and/or you cannot always fulfill their needs. There’s nothing wrong with either. Keep your relationships real. Don’t try to pre-tend to be something you’re not and certainly don’t promise to deliver something that you have no clue how to handle. It’s okay to turn down the second date and hand the prospect o! to someone who may be a better match.

Lead by example and practice what you preach. It always blows my mind when a per-son cannot follow his/her own advice. While the statement is certainly cliché – there’s no better way to put it. If you’re going to be an

absentee boss, you can expect to have dis-tracted and absentee sta!. If you expect your sta! to give 100 percent, then you have to do the same. If you want your employees to be honest and forthright, then you have to be an open book. Your employees and clients, just like your children, will emulate your behavior over time.

Provide sound reasoning and data. When you give someone advise or direct someone to do something, you need to explain why. Teach people your reasoning and back it up with sound data. As a marketing strategist, I give clients advice every day. The advice that is the most readily accepted is the same advice that is backed up with sound reasoning and data. It’s no di!erent when you’re giving a directive to an employee or client. Teach them what they need to know so they can embrace the counsel rather than have it fall on deaf ears. And with that said, I will conclude with:

Choose your battles wisely. This is a lesson that took me more than 30 years to learn. As a youngster growing up in South Philadelphia, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder and always thought I was right. I would go to battle over a political topic, a little white lie someone may have told me just to keep the peace, or the passing insult that had no real meaning. Since then I have learned to choose my battles wisely and if I’m going into combat, I’m going to back it up with sound reasoning and data, practice what I preach, know when to say no, keep it real, remember that it’s not about me, and in the end, walk away unscathed.

From Employee to CEO: What I’ve Learned

Gina F. Rubel, Esq., is the president and CEO of Furia Rubel Communications, Inc., a strategic marketing and public relations agency. For more information go to furiarubel.com.

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Polls show his approval ratings

sliding, which has some

thinking he might be

vulnerable to a strong

Democratic challenger in 2014,

but history bodes well for

Gov. Corbett, who nonetheless

has much at stake

in November’s

presidential

election.


GOVERNOR CORBETT’S MID-TERM IMAGE BATTLE

But does the outcome of November’s election have an impact in 2014 gubernatorial election? If there is any correlation at all, it will depend on who wins the presidential election—Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.

States whose gubernatorial elections that run concurrent with the national elections can often times see a candidate swept up in the momentum - the “coattail e!ect.”

Pennsylvania, on the other hand, chooses gov-ernors two years after the fact, and much of the fanfare from the national election has died down. However, the president still may be influential based on his popularity at the time.

“Certainly presidential policies have had a mild coattail e!ect in the past,” said Rog-

ers Smith, the Christopher H. Browne distinguished professor of political science at the University of Penn-sylvania. “If a president is becoming

unpopular, a candidate has to distance themselves or defend policies that are no lon-ger popular with the public. Democrats suf-fered from that in 2010.”

The president, if popular at the time of the state’s governor’s race, can benefit a candidate, said former state gubernatorial candidate Tom Knox, if he comes and campaigns on his behalf.

Historical voting trends for the state gover-norship for the past 30 years, however, show

very little statistical correlation between the presidential and gubernatorial elections. In every case in which an incumbent ran, the

incumbent was reelected—regardless of party a"liation and party of the president. When the seat has been open, it has gone to the opposite party that held the seat previously.

“Incumbency is a very strong advantage, especially in this state because people don’t pay a lot of attention to the governor’s race,” Carol Jenkins, a political science professor

at Temple University, said. “For example, the governor has more responsibility than the president for state economic policies but is held less responsible—

he gets a pass. Most people don’t even know the governor’s race is coming up.”

She added, “The incumbent also has name rec-ognition, which is extremely important because they are running against someone who is not known by half the state.”

Despite history being on Corbett’s side, a few experts and potential candidates think the gover-norship may still be winnable for Democrats 2014.

“The governor has the lowest approval rating ever because of some of the things he has done,” Jenkins said. “He would be defeated if Democrats could find a strong candidate like Rendell—but Rendells are hard to find and Democrats have a tendency to not put up a strong candidate.”

“The [incumbency] trend does represent a big obstacle but Corbett has also been pushing for broad cuts, especially to education in general. If people believe government services have declined, if the state’s economy is not good, Democrats will have a chance to push against him. If Obama is reelected and economic conditions improve, Democrats will be able to make a strong case but it will be an uphill fight.”

Another challenge facing Corbett is The Penn State fiasco involving Jerry Sandusky.

There is contention about whether or not the issue will have reached its media shelf life in two years—will voters remember and, more impor-tantly, will they care?

“People have long memories on things like this and it doesn’t go away. When the real truth comes out— and it probably won’t come out for another year—and things unfold, it will still be in the news,” said Knox. “The primary is a year and a half and all those ads will start picking it up.”

State Sen. Anthony Williams, D-8th Dist., said he thinks the issue will still be relevant but only if the state auditor general continues to pursue it.

Auditor General Jack Wagner says his o"ce is keeping close tabs on the case and he’s made sev-eral recommendations to the governor—includ-ing mandating Penn State be subject to open records laws and changes in the governance of the university that include disallowing the presi-dent of the school and state governor to be voting

BY REBECCA CATAGNUS

An election more than two years down

the road may seem a lifetime, espe-

cially when it comes to discussing

the Pennsylvania governorship in the

middle of a heated presidential race.

Yet, Governor Tom Corbett’s approval numbers have been slipping to the point

where some believe he may be vulnerable when he runs for re-election in 2014.


The poll storiesOn August 27, The Philadelphia Inquirer published an edition of its Pennsylvania Poll, powered by Global Strategy Group and National Research Inc. Here’s what they reported in regard to Gov. Tom Corbett.

43%responded “somewhat unfavorable” or

“strongly unfavorable” when asked of their opinion of Tom Corbett.


“strongly unfavorable” when asked of their opinion of how Tom Corbett has handled the job

of governor.


“strongly unfavorable” when asked of their opinion of how Tom Corbett handled the Penn State scandal while he was attorney general.

MITT ROMNEY PHOTO BY TONY ALTER

BARRACK OBAMA PHOTO BY ERIN A. KIRK-CUOMO

11%Barrack Obama’s lead in Pennsylvania,

according to a Quinnipiac University / New York Times / CBS News poll.

9%Barrack Obama’s lead in Pennsylvania, according to a Morning Call/Muhlenberg

College poll.


of the school and state governor to be voting members on the board.

The inquisition can, however, ben-efit Gov. Corbett.

Mr. Smith said, “The issue with Penn State may well have faded by then. There’s a lot of unhappiness in the state when it comes to this issue and Corbett is broadly credited with taking aggressive action to correct it. …It will probably help him if it plays a role at all.”

Even if this issue is awash, there are several other areas Gov. Corbett may be lacking in, and people in Harrisburg are beginning to chatter.

And with a glimmer of opportunity that a Democrat could defeat Gov. Cor-bett in 2014, speculation has begun about who the possible candidates will be.

“I’m considering it right now,” Mr. Knox said. “I’m the only one who’s announced it.

“I don’t think [Corbett] gets it. Why not tax the [Marcellus] shale gas? Why pull money out of education? Why not pay for health care? Why not make programs available for kids who need money for education?”

He said the governor is not doing enough for women in the state, espe-cially in the Philadelphia area, where he says victims of domestic violence are required to deliver their own pro-tection from abuse orders to the per-petrators who abused them. He also takes issue with women not receiving a prevailing wage in certain occupations.

Ms. Jenkins said she thinks Mr. Knox has a better chance of winning the governorship than he has in past elections, when he ran for mayor of Philadelphia.

“Knox is self-funded but lacks a per-sonality, which hurt him when he ran for mayor. He’s just not good at meet-ing people face-to-face. He doesn’t have to do that with a gubernatorial race,” she said. “He can run TV ads, which doesn’t necessarily show who the person is.”

Ms. Jenkins added that she believes state treasurer Rob McCord has the best chance of beating Gov. Corbett.

“Rob McCord would be the best candidate but it would be dependent on how low Corbett’s numbers are and he’s pretty low for someone in his tenure,” she said.

Mr. McCord, known as a produc-tive fundraiser, has been asked about tossing his hat in the gubernatorial

ring and Mark Nevins, his reelection spokesperson, told PoliticsPA it was not entirely out of the realm of pos-sibilities. Mr. Nevins added, however, that Mr. McCord is more concerned with focusing on his current job.

It’s a popular response, one given by Mr. Wagner as well.

He said, “We are doing a great job managing the state’s finances and will continue to advocate for taxpayers.

…I have no intentions of running for governor in two years but am always considering options going forward.”

Although he does have plans for the state if he were to pursue the execu-tive o!ce. He stated one area the state government is deficient on is infra-structure, which would be an issue he would champion.

“Many issues remain outstanding,” he said. “One of which is to invest in

our roads, bridges and mass transit. I was, and am, a safety engineer and we have serious problems in Pennsylva-nia.”

He said Pennsylvania is ranked the worst in the country for bridge safety with many of the problems being in the southeastern part of the state. He also feels more needs to done to address unemployment and investing in infrastructure is one way to provide jobs and safety.

Sen. Williams said he would revisit the possibility of making another bid for governor when the time comes but is also considering running for mayor of Philadelphia.

Although he is also known to be a good fundraiser in the state, he has his critics.

“Williams is heavily funded and he’ll run for mayor. If he doesn’t win

then he will run for governor,” said Jenkins. “He’ll never win a governor’s race though because he’s black and Pennsylvania will never elect a black governor.”

She also thinks it’s highly unlikely Mayor Michael Nutter could defeat Gov. Corbett because of his asso-ciation with Philadelphia, which has historically proven to be the case for most former city mayors due to the demographics of the state.

“A lot of people outside of Philadel-phia don’t see Philadelphia leaders as concerned with the whole state as they do their city,” said Mr. Smith. “Those in the rural parts of the state see their interests as di"erent than of the those in the big city.”

If Bob Casey Jr. is successful in his reelection bid for the Senate, then he may very well follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue the governorship. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on a July press club luncheon in Har-risburg, during which Sen. Casey wouldn’t rule out running for governor.

The paper reported that Sen. Casey said, if re-elected, he would complete another six-year term.

“One of the reasons I’m running for re-election is to continue my work in this term, and we’ve got plenty to do,” the paper quoted him as saying.

However, the end of the next six-year term would coincide with the end of a second Corbett term.

And Sen. Casey has campaigned for a di"erent job while in o!ce before. In the middle of his second term as the state’s auditor general, he campaigned in the 2002 Democratic primary for governor, losing to Ed Rendell. Mr. Rendell, of course, went on to win the general election.

Then Sen. Casey won his seat in the U.S. Senate halfway through his term as the state’s treasurer, defeating incumbent Rick Santorum in 2006.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey ran for governor in 2002, but lost in the Democratic primary to Ed Rendell. He said if he wins re-election for another Senate term in November, he would finish out that six-year term.

CASEY JR. IS MORE A COMMITTEE PERSON AND COOPERATIVE LEADER. HE IS MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE SENATE THEN HE WOULD BE AS GOVERNOR.’—CAROL JENKINS, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY


Sen. Casey’s father, of course, served as governor from 1987 to 1995.

“He doesn’t have the same personal-ity his dad does,” said Ms. Jenkins. “He doesn’t have an executive leadership-type personality. Casey Jr. is more a committee person and cooperative leader. He is more comfortable in the Senate then he would be as governor.”

Even if Democrats pressure Sen. Casey to challenge Gov. Corbett, the decision would be “up to him,” Ms. Jenkins said.

Other wildcard candidates have been mentioned as well.

Rep. Allison Schwartz, D-13th Dist., and Montgomery County Commis-sioner Josh Shapiro are rumored to be on the long list of potential candidates.

“Allyson Schwartz is an example of a person with a good deal of political vis-ibility but by the same token is some-one who would have trouble getting elected,” said Mr. Smith. “Democrats need a candidate that can appeal to all parts of the states the way Ed Rendell could and I don’t think she can.”

Ms. Jenkins concurs.“I think Allyson has some ambitions

for higher o!ce but she’s kind of an

independent entity. She might not have the structure established to run for governor,” she said. “She may make a run for senate though or she might just stay where she is.”

Mr. Shapiro, she said, probably has higher ambitions but is not ready to run for governor yet.

“It’s a little early in Josh’s career but he probably wants to develop Mont-gomery County,” said Ms. Jenkins. “I don’t think he is going to run this time but he does have a strong support net-work. He’s very well liked and good at getting out the vote.

“He also has the same resume as Joe [Hoe"el] but he’s a much stronger candidate then Joe. Joe’s not a strong candidate, and I’m not sure why that is. He never took hold in democratic primary.”

Former Montgomery County Com-missioner Joe Hoe"el made a bid for the governorship in 2010 and was a representative for Pennsylvania’s 13th district.

Whoever the challenger to Gov. Cor-bett is, he or she must have a broad appeal across the state to upend the long-running tradition of the incum-

bent winning. Then there’s the matter of this year’s

presidential election.In the 2008 election, Mr. Obama

took the state’s then-21 electorates with more than 620,000 votes. The win here was largely attributed to his popularity in Philadelphia and sur-rounding swing counties, home to roughly 40 percent of the state’s popu-lation.

Pennsylvania is still considered a left-leaning state today and will more than likely go to President Obama again, according to The Washington Post.

In addition, the Commonwealth has gone with every Democratic presi-dential nominee since 1992. And for that reason, some experts believe Gov. Romney supporters already assumed history will repeat itself and pulled resources out of the state during this campaign season.

“[Obama is] very likely to win because polls show him ahead. Rom-ney has not targeted Pennsylvania or treated it as a swing state,” Mr. Smith said. “If the polls should shift, if they think polls will shift, they will return.”

[STATE SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS WILL] NEVER WIN A GOVERNOR’S RACE THOUGH BECAUSE HE’S BLACK AND PENNSYLVANIA WILL NEVER ELECT A BLACK GOVERNOR.’—CAROL JENKINS, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

DEMOCRATS NEED A CANDIDATE THAT CAN APPEAL TO ALL PARTS OF THE STATES THE WAY ED RENDELL COULD AND I DON’T THINK [ALLYSON SCHWARTZ] CAN.’—ROGERS SMITH, UNIV. OF PENNSYLVANIA

The Penn State scandal, and Gov. Tom Corbett’s role in it while he was attorney general, may not be a negative, according to Rogers Smith of the University of Pennsylvania. “Corbett is broadly credited with taking aggressive action to correct it. …It will probably help him if it plays a role at all.”

CREDIT: CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM

28 REGIONSBUSINESS.COMMONDAY APRIL 9, 2012

BY EMILY DICICCO

From the Democratic National Convention to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has been on the national stage all year, promoting himself, the Democratic party, and above all else, President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign.

But he wasn’t always such an Obama team player.

During the 2008 primary, Mayor Nutter campaigned for Senator Hill-ary Clinton, due in part to his relation-ship to Former President Bill Clinton.

Similarly, during Mr. Nutter’s run for mayor in 2007, President Obama endorsed Rep. Chaka Fattah.

Primaries aside, after President Obama’s election, Mr. Nutter has worked extensively for his campaign. He’s spoken on behalf of both Obama’s during several of their Philadelphia visits.

Giving him an even greater national presence, he was appointed “America’s Mayor” for the year in July. Following the appointment, Former Pennsylva-nia Governor Ed Rendell speculated what could come next.

“It is a very important position and it will give the mayor leverage with the White House, leverage with the Con-gress,” Rendell said. “It’s a very posi-tive chip in terms of being able to turn it into some beneficial developments for the city of Philadelphia.”

Did he say leverage? Is Mr. Nutter planning an early exit from Philadel-phia, to say Harrisburg, or Washing-ton. D.C?

“I think it is pretty clear that Nutter wants a spot on the national stage,” said political science professor at Temple University, Carol Jenkins.

Although there’s speculation that Romney has given up on Pennsyl-vania, with a whopping 20 electoral votes, Pa. is a must-win for President Obama. If Mr. Nutter assists in that goal, President Obama may owe him a favor.

It’s not as though Mr. Nutter would be the first Philadelphia mayor to make the move. Former Mayor Joseph

Sill Clark, Jr., who served from 1952 to 1956, moved on to the Senate and after Wilson Goode’s term as mayor from 1984 to 1992, he worked in the U.S Department of Education. How-ever, only one Philadelphia mayor in decades has been elected governor - Rendell. Perhaps Mr. Nutter could make a similar move. Perhaps, but it’s unlikely.

“It is very di!cult for a Philadelphia mayor to get the support across the state needed to be elected governor. Ed Rendell is the only modern mayor to do so. He has more appeal to the rural and small-town voters who pre-dominate in the rest of the state than Nutter is likely to have,” said Distin-guished Professor of Political Science at UPenn, Rogers Smith.

If not governor, senator?“There could be opportunities for

him in 2016 either in the U.S House or challenging Toomey’s re-election to the U.S Senate. Lots of other things, retirements, etc., would have to hap-pen in the meantime.” said Robin Kolodny, political science professor at Temple Uni-versity.

If governor’s out and senator’s only a pos-sibility, that leaves one option: a spot in the White House.

“It is also entirely possible that Nutter would be o"ered a posi-tion in the [Obama] administration,” Mr. Smith said.

Pennsylvania win or not, the decision comes down to President Obama, and not every-one agrees he’ll be so generous with positions.

“Time will tell, but per-sonally, I can’t see Nutter being part of an Obama team. I think he is su"ering from delusions of grandeur, but I might be wrong,” Mrs. Jenkins noted.

Expectations aside, if Mitt Romney is elected, all of Mr.

Nutter’s aspirations would be shut down. It seems Mr. Nutter has a lot on the line this election season; citizens across the country are sure to hear more from him this election season.

“He [Nutter] can, however use his o!ce to lobby for an executive posi-tion in a new Obama administration if Obama is re-elected. Whether that will happen depends on how long a memory Obama has,” Mrs. Jen-kins con-tended.

Nutter’s Path to D.C. Not So Clear

I THINK HE IS SUFFERING FROM DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR, BUT I MIGHT BE WRONG.’—CAROL JENKINS, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

Ms. Jenkins agrees.“I’m guardedly optimistic that Obama’s

chances are very good,” she said. “The Koch brothers took their money out of Pennsylvania and put it elsewhere. That is an indication to me they think it’s not worth spending their money in the state. That was a good sign that Republican sup-port is conceding.”

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that neither presidential can-didate is running any ads in Pennsylvania or Michigan, which calls into question whether using the amount of television advertising is a reliable indicator of who will win the state.

Both parties appear to be focusing more on swing states such as Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.

Despite Obama’s current lead and his-torical advantage, a statement provided to Region’s Business by the Romney cam-paign says it believes Gov. Romney will carry Pennsylvania and cites Gov. Corbett’s election as proof the blue climate is turn-ing red.

“Fueled by unparalleled Republican momentum that swept through the Com-monwealth in 2010, we continue to see growing excitement for the Romney-Ryan ticket in Pennsylvania.,” wrote Kate Meri-wether, Pennsylvania communications director for Romney for President. “Poll-ing has consistently showed apathy among Democrats and disapproval in President Obama and the path our nation is on in a state that President Obama won by double digits in 2008.”

She added that the Romney campaign is placing its e!orts into an “unprecedented grassroots campaign,” rather than adver-tising.

The Romney campaign isn’t the only entity questioning President Obama’s abil-ity to win Pennsylvania either.

It appears there is a split among some Democrats as to the president’s chances to pull o! another victory here in 2012.

“I think it is going to be a very close elec-tion myself, and I’m not sure he can do it. I know he’s up in Pennsylvania but he’s got a lot of work to do,” said Mr. Knox. “People are mad. They are mad because they don’t have jobs. Their kids don’t have jobs. Their kids are mad because they don’t have jobs and have to live with their parents.”

Rep. Mark Critz, D-12th Dist., who is seeking reelection in a conservative area of the state, shunned the Democratic convention to campaign in his district. He publicly criticized the president in

June after President Obama’s economic speech saying, “President Obama and oth-ers in Washington need to realize that we cannot spend our way to prosperity.”

But Pennsylvania has weathered the eco-nomic downturn better then some other states.

“There are certainly some pockets of economic hardship but the state has not undergone dramatic economic fluctuations,” said Mr. Smith. “Pennsylvania is a state that has had a relative stable economy and population in the modern period.”

He attributed the Marcellus shale, along with other factors, with providing jobs

that are possibly keeping Pennsylvania’s unemployment at 7.6 percent — down from 7.7 percent in 2011 — and unemploy-ment claims are currently at a four-year low.

And although the state is faring better than other parts of the nation, former Gov.

Rendell told Bloomberg Businessweek mag-

azine, “Demo-crats can’t

be com-pla-


INCUMBENTS

2006

1998

1990

THE CORBETT FILE


cent,” adding he believes President Obama will take the state.

Recent polls also suggest the state leaning toward President Obama, but with with room for Gov. Rom-ney to gain.

The Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College August 16 released its latest poll-ing data concerning Pennsylvanians. The report stated, “President Barack Obama continues to lead his Republican challenger Mitt Romney, although his advantage is smaller than in June. The president enjoys significant advantages over Romney in his personal popularity and most voters believe he better understands their concerns.”

The data also indicated that there were less unde-cided voters in June 2012 at 15 percent than there were in August 2011 when at 21 percent. According to the “Presidential Horse Race” chart in the report, both Gov. Romney and President Obama increased their polling numbers in the past year. The candi-dates gained an identical 8 percent of polled voters, which placed them at 38 percent (Gov. Romney) and 44 percent (President Obama). If the undecided 15 percent were swung toward either candidate it would land him a solid victory in Pennsylvania in November, suggesting that the state is still in the air.

What is also yet to be determined is whether the state’s voter identification law will have an impact on the results.

Supporters of the measure say the new law will eliminate voter fraud and protect the integrity of the election. Opponents of the legislation feel it will dis-enfranchise voters, especially seniors and minorities. Critics believe this is a partisan conspiracy since nine out of the 11 states that passed similar legislation had Republican governors.

They say the law will prevent up to 1 million voters in the state from getting to the polls because they lack the proper identification needed.

The judge in this case said he disagrees and believes that number is inflated and may only impact 1 to 9 percent of registered voters.

Nevertheless, if the law does in fact a!ect 82,723 to 744,507 of the state’s voting body, it is possible it could wipe out the lead Obama had in 2008.

That is, of course, all of those potential voters would be voting Democrat.

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Throughout the past century, Penn-sylvania has seen major shifts in its political leanings.

At fi rst glance, the state appears to be primarily a bastion for Republicans. After all, since 1902, almost two-thirds of the governors came from the GOP.

The GOP has dominated the early part of the 20th century, said Carol Jenkins, professor of political science at Temple University.

“They had a Republican machine in the state, and it also dominated the Philadelphia area,” she said. “Republi-cans had control nationally during the turn of the century until the depres-sion — with the major-ity then becoming Democrat.”

* * *Since 1970,

the governorship has been shared equally between both parties.

The greatest advantage in the race to become governor has been already holding the o! ce. Since the turn of the century, every incumbent gubernatorial candidate won a sec-

ond term.When there has been no incumbent,

trends show that the party that cur-rently holds o! ce invariably loses.

Consider this recent history: Demo-crat Robert Casey won two terms. He was succeeded by Republican Tom Ridge, who also won two terms (though his second was completed by Mark Schweiker). Democrat Ed Ren-dell won the next two elections and, once his time was complete, Republi-cans took the governor’s mansion with Tom Corbett’s victory.

When it comes to national elections, though, Pennsylvanians appear a bit more partisan. Over the last 100 years,

Pennsylvanians voted for Democrats 1.3 percent more often than the

nation as a whole. Since 1970, that trend has become more decisive, rising to 4.5 percent.

* * *But could Pennsylvania’s

gubernatorial elections be infl uenced a presidential elec-

tion held two years earlier? Statistically, is a Romney

victory more likely to help Gov. Corbett

in his reelec-tion bid than an Obama win?

The below

chart depicts the change in voter behavior between presidential and gubernato-rial elections. If presidential races were able to pre-dict the winner of the state’s race for governor, then both Republican and Democrat trend lines would be straight and close to horizon-tal axis of the graph. This is not the case.

This seeming randomness of these statistics demonstrates that the presi-dential campaign does not dictate Pennsylvania’s next governor.

The only clear indicator is which par-ty is already in o! ce and whether the current governor is seeking reelection.

Over the past 110 years, only slightly more Pennsylvanians (.23 percent) voted for a Democratic presidential candidate than a Democratic governor. More voters (1.44 percent) voted for a Republican governor than a republican presidential candidate. (The opposite occurred in the 1970-72 presidential and gubernatorial election cycles, when Democrat Milton Schapp defeated

Republican Lt. Governor Ray Brod-erick in Pennsylvania, and Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern for the presidency.)

* * *This disparity is in part because of

di" erences in voter turnout between the two elections.

As seen in the above chart, there in an increasing tendency for Pennsylva-nians to vote only in the presidential election. Only in the 1932-34 election cycle did more of the state’s residents vote for governor (Democrat George Earle defeated Republican William A. Schnader) than for president (Demo-crat Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Republican incumbent Herbert Hoover.

Putting Polls Aside, History Favors Corbett

If they could, both charted lines would be fl at. This chart shows the percentage di" erence between which parties voters supported. The erratic movement shows no consistent con-nection.

Since 1900, fewer and fewer voters have cast ballots in both the presidential and Pennsylvania gubernatorial elections. Less than 2 percent of voters participated in only the presidential election at the beginning of the century; that number has climbed as high as 16 percent in recent elections. (REBECCA CATAGNUS)

Can presidential elections dictate Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial elections?

(REBECCA CATAGNUS)


BY VINNY VELLA

Since 2008, “Wall Street” has become a dirty term. Banks have been cast under a negative pall, and even the smaller firms doing business on Main Streets across America haven’t escaped unscathed.

To community bankers, it would seem that, in his e!orts to end the era of “too big to fail,” President Barack Obama has made it tough for the small guys to succeed. And two more dirty words have since entered the banking industry’s lexicon: Dodd-Frank.

“Right now, the uncertainty in the bank-ing world is tremendous,” said Dennis Cirucci, the treasurer of the Pennsylva-nia Association of Community Bankers. “Across the board, the amount of available credit is down, and community banks are increasing the prices of their services and weighing if they’re even worth o!ering.”

In July 2010, the Obama administra-tion’s Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act fundamentally changed the way the financial industry was regulated, consolidating regulatory agen-cies into two new entities tasked with evaluating the risk of banks and ensuring accuracy in all lending practices.

When passing the bill, its legislators were clear in their intentions: to keep a closer eye on the national firms through new infor-mation-disclosure requirements. But com-munity banks, which the Federal Reserve defines as institutions holding less than $10 billion in total assets, are having di"culty absorbing the responsibility of meeting the Dodd-Frank requirements.

“There have been significant additions to back-o"ce personnel on the local level,” Mr. Cirucci, who’s also the president, chief executive and director of the Bromall, Pa.-based Alliance Bank, said. “These com-munity banks are taking valuable front line sta! that could be working to increase revenue and using them to avoid fines that are often di"cult to understand.”

Even more di"cult is measuring exactly how much manpower is required. In a July 2011 report, the House Financial Services Committee estimated that it would take a bank 2,260,631 labor hours every year to meet the full scope of the new Dodd-Frank requirements.

But that number isn’t foolproof — as of this writing, approximately 70 percent of the act’s proposed regulations haven’t been put into e!ect, with some scheduled for public comment well into 2013.

“If 30 percent has been negative, it’s a little frightening, from our perspective,” said Craig Roda, the chairman and CEO of Fulton Bank.

“This is just the beginning.”Mr. Roda said his company — which

holds $9.2 billion in assets and operates branches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Del-aware, Maryland and Virginia — has spent considerable amounts on complying with Dodd- Frank and is bracing for increased costs. Fulton already took significant hits to its debit card revenue under the act’s Derbin Interchange Amendment, which reduced its card fees by about 50 percent.

But it’s not all gloom-and-doom for Fulton; the bank has been able to increase its share over the past year in its existing markets, including residential mortgages.

“Our size puts us in a nice medium between larger banks, which some consum-ers don’t trust, and other banks that may not o!er the same variety of services,” Mr. Roda said. “There’s a place for banks of all

sizes in the industry, a matter of finding the sweet spot and the best customer match.”

That seems to include Penn Liberty Bank, a small firm that serves the Chester County area and holds $560 million in assets.

“We feel we can compete with the larger banks on certain services, because pricing has been a!ected across the board,” said Brian Zwaan, Penn Liberty’s director and chief operating o"cer.

For Penn, the Dodd-Frank is a mixed bag: while its overhaul of the premium banks pay into the FDIC has saved it $100,000 a year, its new regulations have slowed down the loan process and have withheld revenue from the bank, which has had to sit on an ample amount of its capital as a precaution against future price hikes.

Additionally, a majority of the bank’s loans are commercially-oriented, and have been less impacted than other, larger consumer-oriented banks.

“Small banks may have trouble hitting their returns on schedule, but I’m confident they’ll still be successful,” Mr. Zwaan said.

“These banks are incredibly important to this country, and our success will breed suc-cess for smaller businesses and consumers as the economy slowly recovers.”

Early Portions of Dodd-Frank Act Take Toll on Community Banks

ON DODD-FRANK

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last week: “I think it is important to emphasize that the vast majority of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act do not apply to community banks at all.” ON MARKETWATCH.COM

Last month, the Cato Institute’s Mark A. Calabria wrote: “After two years of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a few of the landmines hidden in its hundreds of pages are starting to come to the surface.” IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Last week, Bloomsburg’s Phil Mattingly wrote: “Mitt Romney has pledged to repeal the Dodd-Frank act. That’s not really going to happen — and that’s just fine with Wall Street.” IN BLOOMSBERG BUSINESSWEEK

In March, Javier Palomarez, president and chief executive of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, wrote: “Regrettably, Main Street America — home buyers, consumers and small businesses — is starting to feel some of the unintended consequences of this important legislation.” IN THE WASHINGTON POST

REGION’S BUSINESS


Richie Furino knows the restaurant business from the inside out. Actu-ally, it’s probably more accurate to say he knows it from the bottom up. He started as a waiter 14 years ago and though he hasn’t left the company, he’s worked his way up to become general manager of Del Frisco’s Steakhouse on Chestnut Street.

What’s the elevator pitch for Del Frisco’s?

We’re hospitality-driven. We’re not in the food business, we just use food and drink to deliver hospitality. We’re all about people. When you step into Del Frisco’s, there’s a “wow!” factor. It’s 25,000 square feet with a 60-foot ceiling ... there’s not a more physically beautiful building anywhere.

The restaurant business is a tough business. How do you stay ahead of it?

It’s all about the people. I go back to the restaurant I started at 14 years ago and a lot of the same people are still there. And 14 years? That’s like dog years - every year counts for seven, so it’s a really long time. We have very low turnover. People are the key to what we do.

Television seems to be featuring a lot of restaruants these days. Is what we see on TV what happens in your restaurant?

[Laughs] ... Not at all. We’re very organized, there’s no screaming or hollering. In our culture, we pride our-selves on how we treat our people. We praise in public and redirect in private, but there’s no Gordon Ramsey stu! .

How do you handle the mix of celebrities with the general public?

It’s a great place to meet, so we get

a lot of superstars. (Phllies fi rst base-man) Ryan Howard called after the game the other night and said, “I’m starving. Could you stay open a little later?” Of course, we did. But it’s so cool. I was looking down on the bar the other night and saw a group of good-looking guys in their Armani suits. Right next to them were a bunch of athletes, including Juan Samuel and some of the Phillies coaches. Next to them were some hipsters with their beards and tattoos and then there were a bunch of guys in Phillies and Flyers jerseys. We’re really a melting pot and we treat everyone the same.

What questions should business people ask when booking a busi-ness event?

For us, it’s easy. You call our private coordinator, Jessica Kiefer, who’s the best in the city. We have a huge building and seven or eight di! erent options. We have state-of-the-art AV equipment so people can just plug in their laptop and go. About 30 percent of our business is private bookings and that’s the number we were looking for. There’s a big demand for that. But for us, it’s the same as dining room service for four. We sta! it so we can execute like that..

How has the economic downturn hit you?

We’ve had unbelievable growth. We actually opened in 2008 when others were closing. We didn’t stray from our identity. We didn’t change our portions, we didn’t raise our prices, even though we were getting hit extra charges. We state consistent and weathered the storm. We stuck to our core values and I think customers appreciate that.

For more information, check out DelFriscos.com

A&Q

HOSPITALITYRICHIE FURINO’S

BUSINESS He may be the general manager of Del Frisco’s Steakhouse, but make no mistake, he’s NOT in the restaurant business. This is the hospitality business and it’s all about one thing: People.


FINE ESTATES PREVIEW

Separate Suite Adds Privacy to Gwynedd Valley Estate

You’ll find all the expected luxuries in this grand estate home on Brushtown Road in Gwynedd Valley. It features 10,500 square feet, five bedrooms, five full baths and two half baths and sits on 1.62 acres. The 13-year-old, $2,988,000-home is being offered by The Gedney Group, (215) 542-2200

The gourmet kitchen features top-of-the-line custom cabinetry and appliances.

Features include soaring ceilings, tumbled limestone foyer with dramatic sweeping staircase, Honduran mahogany floors throughout and five fireplaces.

A separate suite comes with a full kitchen, bath, bedroom and living room with a separate entrance.

AllanDombRealEstatePHILADELPHIA’S LARGEST SELLING CONDOMINIUM REALTOR® WE COOPERATE WITH ALL REALTORS®

1845 Walnut Street, Philadelphia 215.545.1500 allandomb.com [email protected]

EastSide,WestSide,We’reAllAroundTheTown

East side condos: Pier 3, Pier 5, 22 Front, Society Hill Towers, The Bank Building,The Lippincott at Locust Walk,IndependencePlace, Hopkinson House, 220 W. Washington Square, Center City One.

West side condos: Academy House, The Rittenhouse Savoy, The Lanesborough,The Warwick, Parc Rittenhouse,The Barclay,The Dorchester, 250 S.18th Street,1820 Rittenhouse Square, 1830 Rittenhouse Square,1900 Rittenhouse Square,220 W. Rittenhouse Square, The Rittenhouse, Rittenhouse Plaza, Wanamaker House, 250 S.17th Street, The Philadelphian.

The Barclay: 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath show-place, marble foyer, open living space,chef’s kitchen,high end appointmentsthroughout. 3293 square feet. $2,900,000.

The Warwick: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 270degree city views, open kitchen, lots of enter-taining space, marble bathrooms. 2000 squarefeet. $1,050,000.

220 West Washington Square: Entire floor homewith 360 degree views including a WashingtonSquare vista, amazing entertaining space, no detailhas been left undone. 3720 square feet. $1,995,000

The Bank Building: Brand new 2 bedroomplus den, 2.5 bath condo with high-end con-temporary kitchen and baths, custom finishesthroughout. 2025 square feet. $1,100,000.

Society Hill Towers: Completely renovatedand furnished corner one bedroom with dra-matic city views, chef’s kitchen and designerbathroom. 803 square feet. $379,900.

Parc Rittenhouse: Brand new 3 bedroom, 3bathroom condominium with all rooms over-looking Rittenhouse Square, lavish finishesthroughout. 1709 square feet. $1,475,000.

BelamourNEW CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION

UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA29 beautiful home sites

(10 magnificent lots still to choose from)1-2.5 acres

Just 3 miles from I95Pisani Builders Associates, Inc.

Building packages starting from $1,200,000.O!-site locations also available.

UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIPExceptional 5 yr young custom home with superbdetails & amenities ~ 5 bedrooms & 5.1 baths ~Custom cabinetry and tile work, arched entries,

Lyptus hardwoods, lavish master suite,finished walkout basement & more ~ $1,500,000

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIPNew custom construction by Michael J Sullivan, Inc. ~

PERMITS ISSUED ~ BUILDING HAS BEGUN1.25 acre lot ~ 3,400 square feett ~

3 1/2 bath ~ 3 car garage.Quality amenities included ~ $599,000

WRIGHTSTOWN TOWNSHIPCustom home on 2.6 acres ~

Over 5,000 square feet of luxury livingspace ~ Amazing finished lower level ~

3 car attached and 5 car detached garages~$725,000

DOYLESTOWN AREADesign your new home today with Lykon Custom

Builders on 1.74 acre estate lot next to preserved land& open space ~ Central Bucks Schools ~Personal attention from design to finish ~

Other lots available ~ from $649,990

WARWICK TOWNSHIPCar enthusiasts and hobbyists must see!

Two homes and outbuildings for the price of one!Historic stone home plus Carriage/Tenant house ~Beautiful Bank Barn ~ Corn Crib ~ 2.11 acres ~

$539,900


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CHAMBER REPORT

SCHUYLKILL RIVER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

9/11 Memorial Unveiled

The Schuylkill River Development Corporation and the City of Philadelphia unveiled the 9/11 Memorial at the Schuylkill Banks Tuesday afternoon to honor the victims and heroes of September 11, 2011, including three Philadelphians who lost their lives in the World Trade Center.

(COURTESY OF SCHUYLKILL BANKS)

GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hong Kong, Bangkok Trip PlannedThe Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce will

host a free informational presentation 6 p.m. Septem-ber 13 about its nine-day trip to Hong Kong and Bang-kok. Registration is free. The March trip costs $2,799.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL

WAC, St. Joseph’s University to Hold Evening with Brokaw

The World A!airs Council and St. Joseph’s University will host a “Con-versation with Tom Brokaw,” award-winning NBC journalist and author of NYTimes bestseller, The Greatest Generation, on September 18 on St. Joseph’s campus.

Brokaw will discuss the evolution of the American dream and how the United States can achieve greatness in the modern age.

Admission is $40 to the general public and regis-tration is now open through the WAC website, www.wacphila.org.

SCANDINAVIAN AMERICAN BUSINESS FORUM

The Scandinavian American Business Forum will present a lecture September 18 at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP in South Phila-delphia. Helge Hove Haldorsen will speak about his company’s “2020 Ambition” in the North American Market beginning at 6 p.m. Non-member tickets cost $60.

Lecture to Highlight ‘2020 Ambition’

GREATER PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2013 Excellence Awards Given to Small Businesses

Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the 2013 Excellence Awards Honoring the Region’s Small Businesses this past weekend. Ten peer-nominated winners were selected from the 11-county region.

They are: -- Wil Reynolds,

SEER Interactive , Small Business Per-son of the Year

-- Avi Golen, Revo-lutionary Recovery, Young Entrepreneur of the Year

-- Nigro’s Auto Body, Customer Service Excellence, Perryman Building and Construction Services

-- Family Business of the Year, Spike’s Trophies\-- Manufacturer, Pathways PA-- Non-Profit, Brownfield Science & Technology-- Professional Services Excellence, Philadelphia

Runner-- Retailer, Jade Yoga Sustainable Business


OPINION

Let’s face it folks, it is hard being a Red Governor in a Blue State like Pennsyl-vania. Instead of focusing on where Governor Tom Cor-bett has missed the mark, I want to focus on what the governor has done right.

The polls might show him down, but are you surprised when he needed to make so many tough decisions?

Let’s start with the burden of former Governor Ed Rendell’s free spend-ing ways. He left behind a legacy of debt that we’re going to be paying for decades to come. He left a huge budget deficit for Gov. Corbett to try and fill. There’s no easy, quick fix to that. And yet, Gov. Corbett has spent his time resolving problems left by the previ-ous administration instead of remind-ing anyone who will listen that nothing was his fault. This is because he knows the difference between fault and responsibility.

Gov. Corbett has met his campaign promise of balancing the budget two years in a row. We should be shouting this from the mountain tops and prais-ing the governor. But with balancing the budget comes tough budget cuts; this is where people get upset. No one wants their favorite government pro-gram cut.

As Steve Forbes pointed out in a recent op-ed, “Corbett’s 2012-2013 budget took a meaningful step — a long needed one — toward changing the culture of Pennsylvania govern-ment from “tax and spend” to policies that move in the direction of market based investment and job creation,

lower taxes and limited government.

Some of these reforms include changes to the state’s unemployment compensation system, a new school choice program that will help the students in failing schools, prison reform, block grants for counties, and tax reform including phasing out the family farm tax and phasing out the business asset tax.

Fellow Pennsylva-nians, this is a huge list of accomplishments. With these reforms our state is

turning around.Most of the governor’s critics voice

objections similar to those of Penn-sylvania state Representative Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster: “The budget did nothing to make up for the deep fund-

ing cuts to public schools and universities.”

In this entitlement/nan-ny-state culture, there will always be the shrill voices whining about not getting enough while dining at pub-lic trough.

Under Gov. Rendell, we were increasing spending in these areas at an unsustain-

able rate. We now need to live with the pain of realistic spending numbers.

Just like in our personal lives, if we have been running up our credit cards, it is painful and di!cult to get back on track. The end result is well worth it.

Pennsylvanians are tired of finger pointing and appreciate e"ective man-agement and leadership. Keep up the good work, governor.

Halfway through his first term, Governor Tom Corbett is about to face his biggest political chal-lenge — one that has little to do with polls but a lot to do with the fiscal future of the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania must face the growing and unsustainable costs of retirement benefits for public school teachers and state workers. The problem amounts to about $40-billion liability in payments of benefits to retired public school teachers and state workers.

In the coming years that figure will stop being an ominous sign at the bottom of a ledger and start having real consequences for the people of Pennsylvania.

Unless changes are made, the state’s con-tributions to its two pension systems will climb from about $1.1 billion last year to more than $4.2 billion in 2016 and more than $5 billion by 2020.

That increase is like a “Pac-Man” eating away at the state budget, Gov. Corbett has warned, and no matter what issue is impor-tant to you, the pension crisis will a"ect it.

The state cannot take on that additional $3 billion without adjusting spending else-where.

Experts say discretionary spending like funding for higher education is likely to be a target.

Earlier this year, Moody’s said the state’s pension costs were a major reason why it was downgrading Pennsylvania’s credit rating.

Gov. Corbett has not been shy about identifying problems, but he’s been unwill-ing to use the bully pulpit to call for action or lean on the General Assembly for solu-tions.

Generally, his message on any issue — from privatizing the state liquor stores to charter school reform — has been “I’ll tell you what I think of it when the bill reaches my desk.”

It’s an attitude that Gov. Corbett brought with him from his previous careers as dis-trict attorney and attorney general.

Since last spring, Gov. Cor-bett has been talking about the need for pension reform that tackles those exploding costs.

But enough of the talk. Now is time for action.

Gov. Corbett should pro-pose immediate changes in the benefit packages for future employees, including moving all new hires into a 401(k)-style pension plan.

Next, he should call for changes to the future benefits of current employees. Allow

workers to keep all benefits they have earned, but set a date in the near future to roll all existing state and public school workers into the same 401(k)-style system.

Here’s the kicker: Those two changes would do nothing to alleviate the $40 bil-lion liability.

But they would at least keep the problem from growing larger.

Only after moving all state workers and public school teachers into a sustainable pension plan can Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly start paying down that $40 billion liability. Doing so without a tax increase may prove impossible, but should be the goal.

There is no such thing as a quick-fix, but finding a solution is critical and pension reform is one of those things that cannot be left to the Legislature alone. The political costs are too high and the special interests are too powerful.

Besides, we already know how that will turn out.

The last time lawmakers tackled pension issues was in the fall of 2010, in the waning moments of Governor Ed Rendell’s admin-istration.

By that point, the lame-duck governor held little sway, and it showed. Political interests trumped the best interest of the state’s businesses and taxpayers.

The result was a “reform” so weak that even some of the architects now admit that it did little more than kick the can a few years down the road.

Gov. Corbett is the key to preventing that kind of weak result again in 2013.

Sizing Up the Governor’s PerformanceForget Polls, Biggest Issue Lies Ahead: Looming Pension Crisis

He’s Clearly No Obama, We Should Be Thankful For That

Anastasia Przybylski is the co-chair of The Kitchen Table Patriots and co-director of PA FreedomWorks. She resides in Doylestown with her husband and three children.

Eric Boehm is the Harrisburg bureau chief for the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Send comments, letters and essays to [email protected]. Opinions expressed by guest writers do not necessarily reflect those of Region’s Business.

GOV. CORBETT HAS MET HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE OF BALANCING THE BUDGET...’


Despite Sliding Polls, Pressure, Corbett Must Stay Course

Amidst the high-profi le battle being waged between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama

for the nation’s highest o! ce, we have a situation developing here in Pennsylvania.

It’s not a terribly unique sce-nario: A governor sweeps into o! ce promising to reduce govern-ment spending and introduce fi scal discipline. Midway through the fi rst term, the budget cuts are beginning to take hold and some people are feeling the pinch.

The results are predictable, and the headline reads “Poll Numbers Drop.”

Such is the case with Governor Tom Corbett.

He rode into Harrisburg with some pretty tough rhetoric, something you would expect from a former attorney general. He promised austere budgets and, to his credit, austerity has been the hallmark of his spending plans.

While the fi nancial results may be lauded, the impact on public opinion has been negative, and not just a little, either.

Recent polls showing that 52 percent of Pennsylvanians disapprove either “somewhat” or “strongly” of his record place Gov. Corbett squarely on the hot seat.

The numbers have sunk to the point where some state Democrats

and Democratic operatives believe they smell blood in the water, that Gov. Corbett could be vulnerable during his re-election bid in 2014.

That may seem like a long way o" , but in the high-stakes, big money game of 21st century politics, it is not too early for such plans to form.

Much can change in two years, of course, but there will certainly be pressure applied to Gov. Corbett from within the GOP, pressure to soften some of his policies. In particular, there will pressure to loosen the purse strings a bit.

What Gov. Corbett is bound to face is more than simply pushback on his spending strategies. What we are about to see is a true test of his leadership capabilities.

If Gov. Corbett truly believes that he has set Pennsylvania on the right path, a path that will lead to reasonable spending by the state government while allowing the private sector to grow and fl ourish, then he must remain steadfast. To begin to bend to the will of the polls would be a return to politics as usual.

It would be refreshing to see a politician, especially a high-profi le one such as a state’s governor, to stick by principles, to stand fi rm in what he believes. As we watch over the next year or so, we will see what Gov. Corbett is truly made of.

EDITORIAL BOARDCEO AND PUBLISHER | JAMES D. MCDONALD

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | KARL M. SMITHASSOCIATE EDITOR | TERRENCE CASEY

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COMMENTARY FROM ACROSS THE WEB

Voter Registration Stuck in Dark AgesIt’s ridiculous in an era where people are able to do just about any transaction online: bank, buy cars, apply for jobs and college, etc., that registering to vote is still strictly a paper process. The irony is a person can check whether he or she is registered to vote online. That means a public worker is manually imputing all that registration information. It would save everyone time and expense if a voter could simply fill out an online form. EDITORIAL, 12 SEPTEMBER

THE PATRIOT-NEWS

Jobs Landscape Calls For Tax ReformIt’s critical to sustain a quarter-century of important investments in making Center City cleaner and safer, as well as exciting enhancements being planned at the West Philadelphia campuses of Penn and Drexel. Tax reform,

shifting from wage and business levies that have crippled job growth, must come next. That will take political courage — so far, lacking — to rightsize city spending and modernize the city’s tax structure. Without it, though, the jobs just won’t be there. EDITORIAL, 10 SEPTEMBER

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Court Should Reverse Voter ID RulingWhat Judge Simpson didn’t see, and which the state Supreme Court should rule, is that voting is a “fundamental right.” Attempts to place a burden on it should be subject to “strict scrutiny.” That is, the government must

prove that it is acting to fix a compelling and serious problem and that the law won’t affect rights any more than is necessary. ”

EDITORIAL, 11 SEPTEMBERPHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS

Obama Gets Bump From ConventionThe Obama bounce coming out of the Democratic convention cannot be ignored in a race as close as this one. His uptick appears to be at least five points, possibly larger. Obama now leads 49 to 44 percent in the Gallup tracking poll, the largest lead since April. In such a tight race with few undecided voters remaining to weigh in, Romney’s task looms formidable.TERRY MADONNA & MICHAEL YOUNG,

12 SEPTEMBER, MORNING CALL

Send your thoughts to [email protected]. You can also reach Editorial Director Karl Smith at 610.940.1656.

Region’s Business combed the blogosphere, the Twittersphere and other corners of the web for interesting commentary over the past week or so. Here’s what we found.

prove that it is acting to fix a compelling and serious problem and that the law won’t affect rights any more

Region’s Business combed the blogosphere, the Twittersphere and other corners of the web for interesting commentary over the past week or so. Here’s what we found.

@Alex_RoartyPennsylvania State Treasurer Rob [McCord]? ... If Casey passes, who else in a better position to challenge Corbett? 9 SEPTEMBER 2012

FEEDBACK

OPINION


BY THE NUMBERS

1,000people responded to a survey about Philadelphia International Airport,

conducted by Select Greater Philadelphia and the CEO Council for Growth.

Most-desired non-stop international business destinations

Tokyo, JapanShaghai, ChinaBeijing, ChinaMumbai, IndiaMilan, Italy

71,000The number of jobs Paul Levy, executive director of the Center City District, says the city could lose by 2021 if the city’s

tax structure isn’t changed.

68,532Seating capacitiy of Lincoln Financial

Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

56%Likely Pennsylvania voters in the fall

election who say they believe the state is headed in the wrong direction,

according to a recent edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Pennsylvania Poll.

$2,000,000,000The estimated worth of the Horsham-based Motorola Home unit Google reportedly intends to sell.

54.4%Percent of the vote won by Tom Corbett during the 2010 gubernatorial election.

$150.85The cost of a ticket for a west side upper

deck to see the September 15 Navy at Penn State football game at Beaver Stadium, according to Ticketmaster

earlier this week.

More than

Most-desired non-stop domestic

business destinations

Orange County, CAAustin, TXHonolulu, HISan Jose, CASan Antonio, TX

Most-desired non-stop domestic leisure destinations

Honolulu, HIAustin, TXOrange County, CASan Jose, CASan Antonio, TX

Most-desired non-stop international

leisure destinations

Milan, Italy Vancouver, CanadaSao Paulo, BrazilTokyo, JapanBuenos Aires, Argen.

$200The amount Hyundai Rotem, Co. is charged for each day

late in delivering SEPTA’s new Silverliner V trains.

$229Cost of a room for

September 13 at the Residence Inn by Marriott

near the Philadelphia Airport, according to the

Hotels.com website.

$200The minimum fine imposed by Major League Baseball

for intentionally throwing at a batter.

$9,545The value of TransPasses

unaccounted for in Philadelphia’s schools.

$9,512The average cost in

Pennsylvania to educate a public school student. Often referred to as cost per pupil.

$4,000The amount of grant

money awarded to Temple University to support its

academic program in local prisons.

$42,339Average annual cost to

incarcerate a prisoner for one year in Pennsylvania.

$12.99Cost of a single, official Major League Baseball ball, found on The Sports Authority website.

RICK DIKEMAN

$100,000,000The amount Temple University hopes to raise over the next five years to fight student debt.

3%The Phillies chance of making the

playoffs as of Wednesday, September 12, according to ESPN.com. It was

1.5 percent on September 11 and 0.6 percent on September 10.

step into epic20 minutes from Philly

parxcasino.commust be 21. gambling problem? call 1.800.gambler.

A 20 minute drive turnsmarried with children into entourage.

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The Tenant’s Advantage

A Cresa tenant advisor talks business.

Cresa Philadelphia 610.825.3939 cresa.com/philadelphia One West First Avenue, Suite 201, Conshohocken, PA 19428

Region's Business, Philadelphia 13 September 2012

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