"This is a great city with great people. But what we have not had is great leadership. In order for Philadelphia to thrive again, we need REFORMERS who have NEW ideas, NEW perspectives, and are from OUTSIDE the system," McColgan told me in an emailed response. "It is the career politicians who got us where we are today; our great city can't rely on them to fix our problems. Too many elected officials make decisions that have their next election in mind, not the families and communities they represent. Philadelphia simply can't afford the failed leadership - and lack of vision - we have seen over the past 60 years."



McColgan has a secret weapon, too – his wife, Dr. Maria McColgan, whom U-Turn has featured before. She is the director of the Child Protection Program at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, is politically astute and is viewed by others – including me – as an up-and-coming political candidate – perhaps on City Council. A City Hall combo of Joe and Maria McColgan would deliver a powerful 1-2 knockout punch to Philadelphia's listless economy.