Features: Who Really Runs This Town?

20. Michael Nutter
city councilman.
Rank in 2000: Not on list

The Mayor’s most reasoned and vocal critic, Nutter, 48, leads the loyal opposition in Council with unwavering sincerity. The Inquirer loves Nutter, but he’s often hamstrung by his inability to smooth things over with Street, or to develop, à la Vince Fumo, a competing web of relationships to exercise power. Example: Word on the street is that he’ll sit out the fight this fall over the Business Privilege Tax because being vocal on it assures Street’s strong opposition.

 Strength: Smart and always prepared, he’s a vicious interrogator on Council.

Weakness: Some power brokers think Nutter lacks passion, and is too willing to remain a know-it-all loner.

21. LEONORE ANNENBERG,
philanthropist.
Rank in 2000: Not on the list

Though she spends most of her time in Southern California, Annenberg, 87, hasn’t forgotten her Philly roots. Through her foundation this year, she’s given $59 million hereabouts, including $28.3 million to Penn for a second Annenberg building, this one devoted to public policy. That’s besides the several hundred million dollars she’s given since 2002, when her publishing magnate husband Walter died. And since most of Annenberg’s donations are in multimillion-dollar chunks, she has the clout to actually determine, as she has at Penn, what kinds of programs will thrive.

Strength: She’s worth $2 billion, and is willing to give it away.

Weakness: Annenberg has her pet Philly charities — mostly Penn and the Academy of Music — but otherwise spreads her foundation’s money across the country.

22. Kenny Gamble
CEO, Philadelphia Records; chairman, Universal Companies.
Rank in 2000: 94

As if winning a Grammy and creating the ’70s “Sound of Philadelphia” wasn’t enough, Kenny Gamble, 62, is also redoing South Philadelphia. Believing that neighborhoods, schools and jobs are interrelated, Gamble has developed more than 200,000 square feet of retail, commercial and low-to-moderately-priced residential spaces in South Philly (where he lives). Universal also manages three South Philly public schools and provides social service programs, job training and home ownership counselors to the community. One of Gamble’s most recent pet projects was bringing the R&B Foundation from NYC to Philly, in hopes that award shows, artists and creativity will follow.

Strength: Take your pick. Ours is bringing more great music to Center City.

Weakness: His revitalization plans focus on the self-segregation of the black community, which many believe is counterintuitive.

23. Zack Stalberg
president and ceo, Committee of Seventy.
Rank in 2000: 24 (as Daily News editor)

Stalberg, 58, has spent the nine months since he left his 20-year editorship of the Daily News positioning himself as the city’s top ethical watchdog, all but vowing to clean up political corruption (otherwise known as “business as usual”) in Philadelphia. It’s an ambitious — and thankless — goal that could ruin his until-now untarnished reputation. On the other hand, Stalberg may be the only guy who can actually pull it off.

Strength: Brings a newspaperman’s critical outside eye to insider-y city politics.

Weakness: Time will tell: Does that outsider status make it too tough to get inside the power game?

24. Amy Gutmann,
president, University of Pennsylvania.
Rank in 2000: Not on list

As head of the city’s largest private employer, Gutmann has a responsibility that spreads far beyond the Ivy’s West Philly campus, and local power players say she’s beginning to exercise it. (See “Room to Improve,” page 115.)

Strength: Gutmann, who turns 56 this month, has spent her academic career studying ethical, social and racial politics — invaluable experience for navigating Philadelphia.

Weakness: Still too new in town to have the connections or influence of Rodin.