Darrell L. Clarke
- City Hall
Room 484
Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 - P: (215) 686-3442
- F: (215) 686-1901
- Clarke's Website
Council Member, District 5
| 1 | The Michaels Development Co. | $27,500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, L.L.P & Employees | $11,250 |
| 3 | Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg & Ellers | $9,600 |
| 4 | Race Street PAC | $8,000 |
| 5 | Edward Hilles | $6,000 |
About Clarke's Top Donors
The Michaels Development Co.
According to its website, “The Michaels Development Company is a nationally recognized, private sector firm with over 30 years of experience in creating fine quality affordable and mixed-income residential communities. All aspects of housing development, from concept to completion, including market evaluation, site acquisition, architectural design, municipal approvals, and the securing of financing from private and public sources are within the company’s expertise.” Past contracts awarded to Michaels Development by the Philadelphia Housing Authority include $5.6 million for construction of residences for senior citizens at the Richard Allen Home complex in North Philadelphia. Michaels Development does far more business in New Jersey however, and was awarded numerous contracts as part of the $1 billion redevelopment of Camden. Michaels also makes far more campaign contributions in New Jersey; however its ongoing support for elected officials in Pennsylvania helps it maintain good relationships that can help it win contracts in the future. By itself—not including its affiliates—Michaels Development gave $94,000 to Mayor John F. Street for his 2003 re-election campaign. A major weakness of Philadelphia’s campaign contribution database is that it makes it very difficult to identify when a company like Michaels Development is making contributions through affiliated entities, and an important question for Philadelphia and the state is coming up with a definition of “donor” that prevents a company from circumventing contribution limits by funneling contributions through affiliated entities.
Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, L.L.P & Employees
A January 11, 2009 Inquirer editorial described Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll L.L.P. as one of the “most politically connected law firms in Philadelphia . . . a firm that collects millions in fees for a variety of government legal and bond work while funneling millions of dollars in campaign contributions to politicians.” Gov. Ed Rendell used to work at the firm, and it has been awarded at least $10 million in state contracts during his tenure as governor, according to a 11/14/08 article in The Philadelphia Bulletin. Recent high-profile clients have included the Pennsylvania Senate Republican caucus, which hired the firm to represent it in the ongoing “Bonusgate” investigation of legislative staffer bonuses in Harrisburg, as well as owners of at least 3 of the 13 licensed casinos in Pennsylvania. Nationwide, the firm’s twelve offices also represent defense contractors, managed care companies, utilities, and many other businesses.
Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg & Ellers
http://www.klehr.com/
Race Street PAC
Race Street PAC
Edward Hilles
Edward Hilles
Missing provisions in ethics legislation
Posted April 2, 2010On March 5, City Council Majority Leader Marian Tasco, along with Councilman Bill Green, introduced multifaceted ethics legislation that Green estimates addresses 80% of the recommendations set forth by the Mayor’s Task Force on Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform, discussed here yesterday in regards to lobbying regulation and oversight ...
The soda tax and lobbying reform
Posted April 1, 2010The issue of a soda tax in Philadelphia has quickly become a central dispute in city politics. Notably, citizens and the media have increasingly commented on the soda tax as an issue that will draw lobbyists to City Hall. The Inquirer, in a March 5 article by Patrick Kerkstra, confirmed ...
Hurry Down Sunshine
Posted Jan. 6, 2010Think of the scaffolding that has moved around the walls of City Hall in recent years as the building was cleaned. Every part of the exterior was cleaned, not just the face you see from the Convention Center, or the face that tourists see from the steps of the Art ...