Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal hosted his annual wild Christmas bash last Saturday night at his loft above his paper, located near Fourth and Lombard streets. Guests included an eclectic crowd of politicos, old acquaintances and new friends.

While Mayor John Street was a no-show (apparently, he couldn't figure out what to wear even after consulting with Segal), Gov. Ed Rendell and wife Midge, a judge on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, made their regular pilgrimage to sing at the party. While the governor is no nightingale, Midge is a practiced chanteuse. They led the Philadelphia Voices of Pride, a newly created chorale group that includes women, in a round of the "Twelve Nights of Christmas."

Judgeships were a topic of conversation at the gig. NAACP President and Philadelphia Sunday Sun publisher J. Wyatt Mondesire said he was pleased that Rendell nominated a black woman to the state Supreme Court to fill the vacancy of Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro, who is leaving at year's end. (Nigro, a target of a voter backlash against the legislative pay raise, was not retained on the high court.) Rendell tapped Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Cynthia Baldwin to fill an interim term until 2008 but she must still earn Senate confirmation.

"We helped put the idea in his head," said Mondesire.

Superior Court Judge Seamus McCaffery said he has set up an exploratory committee to run for Supreme Court in 2007. (For Baldwin to get confirmed, she must promise not to run for the seat.)

City Councilman Frank DiCicco stopped in with two dates on his way back from developer Peter DePaul's black-tie gala held out in Ivyland. The tuxedoed and be-furred DiCicco said he plans to set up an exploratory committee for a mayoral run.

Segal had just released his latest report about profits generated from the July 4 Freedom Concert and Ball starring Elton John, which Segal organized, pro bono. The $1.1 million in proceeds were to benefit John's global AIDS organization and local AIDS organizations. Segal had been criticized by both the media and by some in the gay community for not reaching his $2 million goal and for spending too much money on John's expenses, like for a private jet. While John met his $1 million goal for his own AIDS fund, it seemed not much was left for local foundations. (John since returned $200,000 for local use.)

The city gave the project a $500,000 grant and the nonprofit Citizens Alliance converted a $667,000 loan to a grant, freeing up more money for the city's AIDS organizations.

On Dec. 13, a $100,000 grant was given from the Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld Fund, of which Segal is president, and was divided among 31 local AIDS organizations.

"It's disgusting that they want to politicize AIDS," Segal said of his critics. "Not one of those people has worked for an AIDS organization. They ought to look in the mirror."

Segal was celebrating his coming two-year anniversary with partner Jason Villemez and preparing to celebrate his paper's 30th year next month.

State representatives and senators are up for re-election next year and may be feeling particularly vulnerable since voters statewide have promised Nigro-like retaliation against them for voting themselves a pay raise that they later repealed. But local legislators have not seen the levels of animosity that officials from the middle and western parts of the state have. In fact, they could benefit from the long coattails of Rendell, who is also running next year.

In 2004, state Rep. Babette Josephs had two opponents in the Democratic primary: Andrew Hohns and Terry Gillen. It was Hohns' second try and the first for Gillen, who is a ward leader. Josephs beat both, but not handily.

"I'm considering it," said Gillen when asked about her plans to seek Josephs' 182nd district seat. "I'm also considering running for City Council-at-large in 2007."

Hohns said he is still exploring the possibility but has been focusing on what he calls "more meaningful community involvement."

"I helped with the Grays Ferry Community Coalition in giving away 250 turkeys to needy families for Thanksgiving," he said, "and I also am involved with the Beacon Program, an afterschool program for kids."