Running for lt. governor, Saidel says

Even in a town known for colorful politicians, Jonathan Saidel stands out as a character.

Consider this joke that Saidel made during a City Hall news conference yesterday as he announced his run for lieutenant governor in the May 18 Democratic primary.

Saidel said that people kept asking him why he wanted the job.

"You get a call. Someone passed away. And you get to be governor," Saidel said as the politicians, lobbyists and labor leaders packing the room erupted with laughter. "I don't want that to happen. I really don't."

Saidel, 58, who served 16 years as city controller, pledged to attack the state's many problems and not just wait for political marching orders from a governor.

"We can no longer sit back and let Harrisburg dictate to us as to what the answers are," Saidel told the crowd. "Because the same-old, same-old ain't going to work anymore."

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the city Democratic Committee, emceed Saidel's announcement, praising him as someone who has worked "for every single Democratic candidate elected in the city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania."

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, a candidate for governor, attended the annoucement. Saidel later said that he invited Hoeffel, but does not plan to run on a ticket with him.

Saidel said that he didn't need to link his campaign to a Democrat running for governor. Saidel said that he was "pretty confident" that the state Democratic Committee would endorse him next month.