Ashdale says
Taubenberger stays

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

State Rep. Mike McGeehan wants mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger to step down from the board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
If Taubenberger refuses, McGeehan wants PPA chairman Joe Ashdale to remove him.
Ashdale’s response?
"My answer’s ‘No,’ he said.
McGeehan (D-173rd dist.) spoke out because Taubenberger, a Republican from Fox Chase, has made ethics one of the cornerstones of his campaign.
"It’s the same old same old," he said.
The legislator thinks the candidate’s position on the parking authority board is a conflict of interest. He’s asking the Committee of Seventy, Common Cause and the city Board of Ethics to join him in calling for Taubenberger’s ouster because of what he calls an "ethical cloud."
McGeehan noted that employees of the parking authority — which has been controlled in many ways by Republicans after a state takeover in 2001 — can engage in political activity, adding that it’s possible those employees could feel obligated to work for or donate money to the Taubenberger campaign.
In addition, McGeehan asserted that vendors who have contracts with the PPA could feel obligated to make contributions to Taubenberger’s campaign.
While acknowledging that he’s a "fierce partisan Democrat," McGeehan adds that he generally has an affection for underdogs like Taubenberger.
"It’s not personal. I have no ax to grind with Al Taubenberger," he said.
McGeehan has not endorsed any of the candidates running for mayor in the Democratic primary.
Taubenberger, saying he wants to eliminate the "embarrassment" of the city’s reputation for corruption, thinks McGeehan is being partisan. He said he would not use his candidacy to raise money from PPA employees or vendors.
"Representative Mike McGeehan has looked at the field of six mayoral candidates and has decided that since I’m the only one with a Northeast Philadelphia base, that I pose a real threat in November," he said. "The Northeast, which is thirty percent of the city and has a tax base that contributes thirty-five percent to the city of Philadelphia in revenue, has never had a mayor. I want to change that."
Taubenberger is one of six board members. They meet once a month and are paid $200 for each meeting.
Ashdale, a Mayfair resident, is business representative for District Council 21, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. His union is supporting U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, a Democrat, in the mayoral race.
Ashdale said Taubenberger’s role on the board does not pose a conflict of interest.
In a letter to McGeehan, he wrote, "I see no basis for your allegation, nor do I see where any conflict would exist — especially in light of other candidates for mayor of Philadelphia serving on governmental boards and/or elective office."
McGeehan, who said he will forego a primary challenge to City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, said he will take legislative action to reform the parking authority. He wants to ban political activity by employees and prohibit vendors from making campaign contributions. He also wants to restructure the board and shorten the terms from 10 to five years.
In addition, he will call on state Auditor General Jack Wagner to conduct an audit of the authority.
On a related matter, he will support efforts to create a Web site where PPA employees can make anonymous postings if supervisors try to force them into political activity. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com