Jonathan A. Saidel - Attorney Profile

2001 Market Street 29th floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Phone: (215) 567-3500
Toll Free: (888) 375-7600
Fax: (215) 567-6019
Email: jsaidel@cprlaw.com

Jonathan A. Saidel

Biographical Information:

Jonathan A. Saidel served as Philadelphia's City Controller for sixteen years (1990-2005), winning re-election most recently in 2001 with 87.5 percent of the vote. As Controller, he has won local and national plaudits for reforming and professionalizing the Controller's office, his dedication to fiscal discipline and proposing innovative ideas to grow Philadelphia. His 1999 book "Philadelphia: A New Urban Direction" continues to be used as a textbook in college level urban studies courses.

A lifelong resident of Northeast Philadelphia, as Controller, Jonathan has been called "a taxpayer's best friend" for his outspoken advocacy of reducing Philadelphia's crushing tax burden in order to spur economic development in every neighborhood and stop the exodus of people and jobs from the city. His work with then-Mayor Rendell in the early 1990s helped return Philadelphia from the brink of bankruptcy and onto sure footing. His groundbreaking audits and proposed government reforms have saved the taxpayers over $500 million since 1990.

For his work, Jonathan has won national and local awards, including the National Association of Local Government Auditor's Knighton Award, the President's Council on Integrity & Efficiency Award for Excellence and multiple "Special Projects" awards from the National Association of Local Government Auditors. He has been recognized as "Controller of the Year" by his peers in the PA City Controllers Association.

Jonathan served as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Fels Center of Government from 2000 to 2005 and an adjunct professor at Drexel University's MBA program in 1999 and 2002.

Bar Admission:

• Pennsylvania, 1979

Education:

• Widener University School of Law, J.D., 1979
• Temple University, 1972, CPA Designation, 1975

Community and Bar Association Activities:

• Advisory Board Member, Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis and Response
• Board Member, Back on My Feet
• Chairman, Advisory Board of Bluestone Real Estate Capital
• Board Member, CORA
• Board Member, Greater Philadelphia Film Board
• Advisory Board Member, St. Hubert's Catholic High School For Girls
• Board Member, Labor Advisory Board of America

Notable Writings

• Author, "Philadelphia: A New Urban Direction", 1999.
• Author, "9-1-1 Emergency System Audit: City of Philadelphia Pennsylvania", 1995.