Pol uses swine language

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Gene Stilp came to Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel’s office to protest last summer’s legislative and judicial pay raise.
The Harrisburg-area activist, though, spent most of his time eating soft pretzels, drinking Hank’s Root Beer and dancing to Mummers music.
On April 24, Stilp announced that he would be arriving the following morning at Perzel’s district office at 8140 Verree Road with a giant inflatable pig as part of his "Squeal or No Squeal Tour," a takeoff on the game show Deal or No Deal.
Stilp, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, wants Perzel (R-172nd dist.) to pass a bill that stops legislators who took the pay raise in unvouchered expenses from using the money to enhance their pensions. The pig was adorned with a sign that read, "Perzel Pay Back the Money."
Public outrage at the raise helped oust Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro, the first statewide judge to lose a retention vote. The legislature ultimately repealed the pay raise, but many lawmakers kept the cash from unvouchered expenses.
"We want Perzel to give back his unvouchered expenses," Stilp said.
Team Perzel was ready for Stilp and his "John Perzel Pension Piglet." While the speaker was in Harrisburg, his wife Sheryl and about 100 other supporters were there to greet the visitor.
Among those on hand were the Rev. Joseph Campellone, president of Father Judge High School; Ted Kirsch, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers; Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Joe Ashdale, head of District 21 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Scott Cummings, president of the Mayfair Civic Association; and ward leaders and officials with the Holy Terrors Youth Organization and the Mayfair Community Development Corporation.
Tables were set up and filled with Perzel hats, T-shirts, mugs, key chains and pens. Supporters munched on sandwiches, pasta salad and cole slaw and presented Stilp with a gift basket that included soft pretzels, Tastykake Krimpets, Hank’s Root Beer, a Perzel hat and a "Welcome to Northeast Philadelphia" sign. He declined a pork sandwich.
Annette Rothermel, an employee of Dr. Harvey Edelman’s dental practice, ordered Stilp to remove the pig from the lawn of the business, but the prop stayed and the mood lightened.
Stilp wondered why so many of the Perzel supporters weren’t at work on a Tuesday morning, and they asked him about his employment.
"My job is to take the pig across the state," he said.
Perzel declined to comment about the event, but his supporters defended him.
Campellone, who posed for pictures with Stilp and shook his hand in front of the pig, praised the speaker for his work helping local high schools, Holy Family University and Nazareth Hospital and for funding a community center named after him.
"John’s a great leader. He’s doing an incredible job for Northeast Philadelphia," he said.
When the Polish-American String Band began playing O! ‘Dem Golden Slippers, Stilp started to sing along, changing the words to "O! ‘Dem Golden Pensions." He did the Mummers strut and danced to the Democratic anthem Happy Days are Here Again with Perzel supporters Jan Meyer, Sheryl Bernhardt, Kim Zimontas, Elaine Delmont, Anne Sommer and Nancy Lorentson.
Taubenberger, the unofficial emcee of the rally, called Stilp’s appearance a "grandiose stunt" designed to get his name in the paper. He told him the pig belonged in the circus, not outside the office of a "real, real good state representative."
The business leader said the turnout showed that Perzel has the support of his constituents.
"You see a lot of love for the man," said Taubenberger, a former congressional candidate who is pondering a run for mayor next year.
When Stilp tried to address the crowd, the string band drowned out his voice by playing I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover.
The musicians quieted down for Ashdale, a longtime friend of Perzel’s who said the speaker cares about working-class families. The AFL-CIO supports his re-election.
"Long live John Perzel," Ashdale said.
When Stilp tried to speak again, the string band began to play the Pennsylvania Polka.
Cummings reminded the crowd that Perzel has strengthened youth athletics groups, provided a radar machine to slow traffic and contributed money to a reward fund to find the hit-and-run driver responsible for the death of Sister Paul Mercedes.
"The Northeast is John Perzel’s neighborhood," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com