Politician Keeps Promise

From the Inquirer.


Pa. governor keeps '04 World Series promise to boy
The Associated Press Posted on Mon, Oct. 27, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Jake Lancianese is a 10-year-old who knows the two things you need when calling in a promise from a politician: a good memory and rock-solid documentation.

That's how the fifth-grader from Aston got to attend Game 4 of the World Series with Gov. Ed Rendell on Sunday.

Rendell visited Hilltop Elementary School in 2004, when Jake was in first grade, and asked students why early childhood education was important. What would happen, he asked, if a strong building was built on a weak foundation?

Jake raised his hand. "It would fall down."

Rendell told the boy he was right, and added that the next time the Phillies made it to the World Series he would get him a ticket.

The governor promptly forgot. Not Jake.

When the Phillies took a two-game lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National Division Championship Series earlier this month, Jake composed a letter to Rendell , in cursive. That's how you write to a governor, he said.

"Well, it took us four years, but we're almost there," he wrote. "I was hoping you'd still be the governor when they made it and lucky for me you are."

The 4-foot-9, 80-pound first baseman included his baseball card from last summer at the Phillies Baseball Academy and a copy of an article in the Delaware County Daily Times about Rendell's visit to his school.

Jake highlighted the lines about the Phillies ticket.

After receiving the boy's letter , sent by certified mail , Rendell told his wife, Midge, an appellate court judge, that they'd be attending the game with a guest.

"I got the letter (and) it blew me away," Rendell said. "What blew me away was first of all, he remembered. Secondly, he was a such a great Phillies fan. And thirdly, he did such a great job in building his case."

Rendell called the package "a better presentation than I get from members of my own staff when making a point, or lawyers making a case."

From their seats 23 rows behind the visitor's dugout, the Rendells, Jake and his father, Pat, a third-shift Amtrak maintenance foreman, watched the Phillies rout the Rays 10-2.

Jake wore his Phillies cap and hooded sweat shirt, and brought his mitt in case of foul balls. A politician's promise was fulfilled.

"I thought I had a pretty good chance of getting the ticket," Jake said, "because he's a pretty good guy."

Rendell said: "I always believe with young people, you have to reward boldness. Any kid who has guts to do that and build a case so carefully, I had no choice. It was such a remarkable thing."