Summary
Though the meetings at his Harrisburg office typically draw more than 60 state insiders - one recent meeting featured presentations from Sen. Arlen Specter's Chief-of-Staff Scott Hoeflich and state Sen. Robert Wonderling, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee - Gerow is the straw that stirs the drink. Unlike a businessperson, lawyer or other professional running for public office for the first time, consultants know how the game is played, and the sword is decidedly double-edged. With the pitfalls of running for office - taking, at the very least, a short-term break from consulting and the resultant loss of income, having your good name and reputation dragged through the mud and, don't forget, the very real potential for losing - why would consultants want to put everything on the line to run for political office?
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Extract
Taking the Plunge
When Republican political consultant Charlie Gerow hosts a monthly off-the-record meeting for Pennsylvania's Republican elite, it's clear who's in charge. Though the meetings at his Harrisburg office typically draw more than 60 state insiders - one recent meeting featured presentations from Sen. Arlen Specter's Chief-of-Staff Scott Hoeflich and state Sen. Robert Wonderling, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee - Gerow is the straw that stirs the drink.
Working the room, Gerow demonstrates not only his quarter century as a consultant, but also shows flashes of the natural politician. It's easy to assume he has experience beyond his consultancy and, in fact,...See the full content of this document
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