Matt Taubenberger
gets GOP nod in 170th

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Matt Taubenberger said his experience working for state Rep. George Kenney makes him a worthy successor.
"I’ve learned about the district and what is required of a state rep," he said. "It’s not a nine-to-five job."
Taubenberger, a Burholme resident, was unanimously endorsed last week as the Republican candidate in the 170th Legislative District. He’s expected to be unopposed in the April 22 primary.
Kenney, first elected in 1984, recently announced that he wouldn’t seek a 13th two-year term.
The Democratic candidate is expected to be Brendan Boyle, who lost to Kenney in the 2004 and ’06 elections. Unlike the Democrats, Republicans were left without an obvious candidate when the 50-year-old Kenney announced his retirement.
Taubenberger was chosen after GOP boss Mike Meehan and ward leaders interviewed candidates at Café Michelangelo. The other finalists were Assistant District Attorney Dan Alvarez and Stuart London, a 58th Ward committeeman and sports editor of the News Gleaner.
"Matt’s a good candidate," Meehan said. "I think he can and more likely will win the seat."
A few other possible candidates — Bob Boyle, Kelly Preski and Vince Furlong — dropped out of contention before the interviews.
Taubenberger, whose dad Al was the Republican mayoral candidate last year, does not have the name recognition of Boyle and will have to do some catching up to match his fund-raising total.
In addition, Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district. Boyle also hails from the 58th Ward in Somerton, where the bulk of the voters live.
"We’re going to have to work like hell in the northern part of the district," Meehan acknowledged. "That’s where George’s strength was. We have to make that Matt’s strength."
Taubenberger, 30, said he will knock on doors and do all of the other hard work it takes to win a campaign.
"You have to really, really want this," he said. "It’s a big commitment."
Taubenberger said he’s gained his political knowledge from his dad, Kenney and former state Rep. Chris Wogan, now a Common Pleas Court judge. He’s attended civic meetings and other community events for Kenney.
The candidate is a Realtor and former city juvenile probation officer.
"I really love helping people," he said.

• • •

Republicans are close to selecting a candidate to oppose U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.).
Three candidates have expressed an interest. They are Marina Kats, a lawyer from Meadowbrook and president of the local Russian-American Chamber of Commerce; Lee Falgoust, head of the Republican Party in Upper Moreland; and Frank Szabo, an Ambler resident. The district includes most of the Northeast and much of Montgomery County.
The candidates were scheduled to be interviewed on Wednesday night at the Blue Bell Inn. Kats has the backing of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, the Philadelphia GOP and Bob Asher, a prominent Montgomery County Republican.
Kats, who was born in Ukraine, will focus on illegal immigration.
"Amnesty is the worst thing we could do," she said.
Kats, citing low approval ratings for Congress in the last year, thinks the district and the nation are ready for fresh faces.
"I’m running against a very strong incumbent, but I think all incumbents will be vulnerable this time around, Democrats and Republicans," she said.
Schwartz, who coasted to victory two years ago over Raj Bhakta, already enjoys a big advantage in campaign cash.
"She’s going to have a lot more money than me, so I will have to do a grassroots campaign. I’m willing to," Kats said.

• • •

Local Republicans have made most of their endorsements for the primary. They and the Democrats are busy circulating nominating petitions.
The GOP is endorsing the following congressional candidates: Mike Muhammad vs. Rep. Bob Brady in the 1st district; Mike Livingston, a law professor at Rutgers-Camden, against Rep. Chaka Fattah in the 2nd district; and Tom Manion, a former Marine and executive at Johnson & Johnson, against Rep. Patrick Murphy in the 8th district.
Republicans are backing John Farley against state Sen. Mike Stack (D-5th dist.). Back in 2003, Farley was supposed to be the Democratic candidate in the 10th Councilmanic District, but he lacked enough valid nominating petitions.
A state grand jury indicted three people — including Stack’s father — for allegedly forging signatures. They have not been prosecuted.
Farley will focus his campaign on ethics and opposition to slot-machine parlors.
In the 3rd Senatorial District, Republicans are still deciding on a candidate to challenge incumbent Democrat Shirley Kitchen.
State Reps. Tom Murt (R-152nd dist.), Dennis O’Brien (R-169th dist.), John Perzel (R-172nd dist.) and John Taylor (R-177th dist.) are running for re-election.
Democrats are unlikely to present a challenger for O’Brien.
Upper Moreland commissioner Lisa Romaniello is expected to face Murt. Tim Kearney and former FOP Lodge 5 president Rich Costello want to challenge Perzel. Harry Enggasser, a ward leader and aide to Stack, will have a rematch with Taylor.
Republican challengers include Belinda Nelson vs. Rep. Mike McGeehan in the 173rd district; Carol Berry vs. Rep. Mark Cohen in the 202nd district; and Robert Maggi vs. Rep. Dwight Evans in the 203rd district.
Michael Berry is the Republican candidate in the 179th district. Democrats have endorsed Guy Lewis, a nurse, Gulf War veteran and lifelong Frankford resident, to face freshman Rep. Tony Payton in the primary.
Republicans have not settled on candidates to take on Reps. Larry Curry (D-154th dist.) and John Sabatina (D-174th dist.).
Philadelphia Republicans are circulating nominating petitions for three presidential candidates: John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com