District 172

In the first half of 2011, NEast Philly led an investigative look into the corruption charges against former State Rep. John Perzel and how the allegations against him have affected the 172nd District.

Perzel, who plead guilty in August 2011 to eight of 82 corruption charges, spent three decades in the state house, including a stint as a powerful Speaker of the House and was known for bringing an impressive stream of state funding back to his district, most notably the Mayfair neighborhood.

Through his lawyer, Perzel failed to respond to several requests for an interview for this project.

In partnership with Philadelphia Neighborhoods as part of an Enterprise Reporting Fund grant from J-Lab: The Institute of Interactive Journalism, our reporters took an in-depth look at the development and revitalization efforts in the district, specifically along the Frankford Avenue corridor in Mayfair, where Perzel concentrated his resources. This project was edited by Shannon McDonald, reported by Christopher Wink and Philadelphia Neighborhoods and this landing page was developed by Jim Smiley of the Frankford Gazette.

Find all of the coverage here. Browse some of our more feature stories below, relevant video at right or two interactive tools at the bottom of this page.

Perzel pleads guilty, releases statement, following associate admissions

John Perzel, former Pennsylvania House Speaker and 172nd Legislative District rep, pleaded guilty Aug. 31 as expected to eight of 82 counts of corruption, conspiracy, theft and conflict of interest. MORE

Community building in the future may be without heavy government investment

What’s the biggest impact from John Perzel’s indictment, the historic state budget deficit and a shake up of community leaders in a tight knit neighborhood like Mayfair? Perhaps nothing short of a change in how residents improve their blocks forever.

Civic member says, “there will never be another John Perzel in the Northeast”

After John Perzel, the former speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was charged with misusing public funds, he lost the seat he had held for more than 30 years in the 172nd District to Democrat Kevin Boyle.

Breaking down funding during the Perzel era

About $10.6 million was funneled directly to the Mayfair Community Development Corp. since 2000, granted from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, according to its website. Much of it went into street cleaning and senior citizen programs.

Redistricting: How critics claim John Perzel shaped District 172 in his own image

State legislative districts are again being remade, following the 2010 U.S. Census. One district that will be watched by some insiders is the Pennsylvania 172nd State House Legislative district, formerly the precinct of John Perzel.

Kevin Boyle: State Rep. working in Mayfair, former Perzel country

Kevin Boyle has made a conference room out of John Perzel’s closet.

Featured District 172 Video

6 ABC initial Nov. 2009 report on John Perzel indictment

John Perzel and Reese Hartey on Mayfair CDC in Oct. 2008

NEast Philly: Rep. Kevin Boyle on beating Perzel

NEast Philly: Other neighborhood leaders on Perzel

In Sept. 2008, Perzel talks about resident concerns about rental properties, an issue his successor Kevin Boyle has taken up.

NEast Philly: Does the Perzel Center need a name change?

Kevin Boyle campaign ad against Perzel in 2010 campaign

The Players: John Perzel's political friends and foes

John Perzel
First elected to the state house in 1978 at 28 and in office until 2010, the Republican and Northeast native was the powerful Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006. In fall 2009, he was indicted for a slew of corruption charges for allegedly using public money for political gain. He was known for bringing large sums of money back to his district.
Tom Corbett
The current Republican Pennsylvania Governor, it was as state Attorney General that he led the highly publicized 'Bonusgate' investigate of misused public funds among state legislators and staff. What largely snared a slew of Democratic operatives accused Perzel and friends of the same in November 2009.
Kevin Boyle
The freshman Democrat state representative beat out his then-indicted incumbent challenger Perzel in the November 2010 election. The Fox Chase resident focused his campaign on battling problem absentee landlords and the cloud of suspicion around Perzel.
Brian J. McMonagle
Perzel's attorney, he is a founding partner of a small Center City private law firm. McMonagle, who started his career in the city's District Attorney's office, has 20 years of experience defending controversial, high-profile public officials.
Brian Preski
Perzel's chief of staff from 2003 to January 2007, the Philadelphia lawyer was also charged with a slew of acts of corruption. Except for Perzel, Preski was "arguably the most powerful person" in the House Republican caucus, according to a state grand jury report.
Paul Towhey
The Blue Bell resident worked in Perzel's Mayfair district office from May 2003 to March 2007 before replacing Preski as Perzel's chief of staff. Also indicted, the grand jury presentment accused Towhey of doing more political work than legislative work.
Samuel "Buzz" Stokes
Perzel's brother-in-law, Stokes became Perzel's permanent campaign manager after the powerful leader only narrowly escaped his 2000 re-election bid. Though on the state payroll, the grand jury characterized Stokes, a Holme Circle resident, as "exclusively a campaign office employee."
Joe Ashdale
The powerfully connected labor leader has long been known as a Perzel ally, though he faces no charges. A trustee of District Council 21 and Local 252 union leader, Ashdale is the chairman of the Parking Authority board and active in Father Judge and St. Hubert's high school fundraising.
Reese Hartey
The founding Mayfair CDC executive director and a former Mayfair Civic president starting in 1991, he was known as Perzel's top community partner, though he is not accused of any wrong doing. Born in South Philly but a long-time Mayfair resident, he is now a logistics manager for the U.S. Navy.
Joan Krajewski
For more than 30 years, Krajewski was the City Councilwoman of the 6th district, which shares boundaries with Perzel's former house district. Though a Democrat, she was known as a strong, strategic partner of the Republican state leader. Retiring after participating in the controversial DROP program, she is not directly involved in the Perzel charges.
Tom Forkin
Worked for Rep. Denny O'Brien when O'Brien succeeded Perzel as state speaker in 2007. Now working in the private sector, Forkin recently rejoined to Mayfair CDC Board.
Joe DeFelice
A native and resident of the neighborhood, DeFelice is a Mayfair Civic President, a Mayfair CDC board member and a Republican ward chairman. He is a lawyer and active in organizing community events and other civic groups.
Denny O'Brien
A Perzel rival, O'Brien followed Perzel as state Speaker of the House from 2007 to November 2008. First elected in 1976, his tenure was only interrupted by a failed 1980 campaign for U.S. Congress. He's now seeking a City Council at-large seat.
Brian Patrick King
As Mayfair CDC executive director, King helped launch the Devon Theater community theater project. After Perzel was indicted and the CDC facing financial uncertainty, King left to become fundraising director at Father Judge High School.
Mike Driscoll
An interim Mayfair CDC chairman following Reese Hartey's resignation, Driscoll is a familiar Mayfair actor and owner of the Finnegan's Wake bar in Northern Liberties. Active in local politics, his name has surfaced as a possible state house candidate.