U.S. REP. ALLYSON SCHWARTZ SAYS SHE'LL SET UP A STATE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE AS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD A LIKELY 2014 CAMPAIGN FOR PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR. THE FIFTH-TERM DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN STOPPED SHORT OF DECLARING HER CANDIDACY, BUT TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FRIDAY THAT SHE INTENDS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AND WILL FILE PAPERS TO CREATE A POLITICAL-ACTION COMMITTEE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. SCHWARTZ SAYS HER FEDERAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS ABOUT $3 MILLION THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO A STATE COMMITTEE. SHE WOULD FACE COMPETITION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TO CHALLENGE REPUBLICAN GOV. TOM CORBETT. FORMER STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECRETARY JOHN HANGER DECLARED HIS CANDIDACY IN NOVEMBER. OTHER PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES INCLUDE FORMER U.S. REP. JOE SESTAK AND STATE TREASURER ROB MCCORD, WHO LIKE SCHWARTZ HAIL FROM THE HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC PHILADELPHIA REGION.
TODAY IS NATIONAL PIG DAY, A FACT NOT LOST ON THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS. "WE HAVE A PIG ROAST HERE AND FREE HOT DOGS AND FREE COCA-COLA PRODUCTS, STORY TIME FOR KIDS, A BALLOON ARTIST, FACE PAINTERS AND MUSIC HERE AT THE BALLPARK," SAYS KURT LANDES. SINGLE GAME TICKETS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON GO ON SALE TODAY AS WELL AS TICKETS TO THE TRIPLE-A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TO BE HELD AT COCA-COLA PARK IN MID-SEPTEMBER.
THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW OPENS TODAY WITH A BRITISH THEME FEATURING ENGLISH ROSES, COTTAGE GARDENS AND EVEN BIG BEN. THE SHOW LOOKS AT BRITISH HORTICULTURE FROM URBAN LONDON TO RURAL COTTAGES. A 38-FOOT-TALL VERSION OF BIG BEN, THE FAMOUS CLOCK, IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE FLORAL SPECTACULAR. BIG BEN'S FOUR FACES DISPLAY THE TIME BUT ALSO OFFER LIGHT AND SOUND SHOWS EVERY HALF HOUR. THE CLOCK TOWERS OVER TERRACES FILLED WITH ENGLISH ROSES. THE SHOW RUNS THROUGH MARCH 10 AT THE PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER. THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW IS BILLED AS THE WORLD'S LARGEST INDOOR FLOWER SHOW AND IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE OLDEST, DATING BACK TO 1829.
PITTSBURGH MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL SAYS HE IS ABANDONING HIS BID TO SEEK REELECTION, BUT WILL REMAIN IN OFFICE. RAVENSTAHL MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY AFTER SPECULATION FUELED BY AN AIDE'S COMMENTS EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THE MAYOR WOULD SOON BE CALLING A NEWS CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS "SOME ISSUES." THAT PROMPTED REPORTERS TO CAMP OUTSIDE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THURSDAY FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH NEVER CAME, UNTIL RAVENSTAHL `S FRIDAY MORNING NEWS CONFERENCE. RAVENSTAHL BECAME THE CITY'S YOUNGEST-EVER MAYOR AT AGE 26. HE TOOK OFFICE IN 2006 BECAUSE HE WAS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHEN MAYOR BOB O'CONNOR DIED, AND WON A SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2007 TO FINISH THAT TERM AND WAS RE-ELECTED TO A FULL FOUR-YEAR TERM IN 2009.
