Former Lt. Gov. Mike Stack first ran for office in 1988 and left office at the end of 2018, and along the way often made journal entries of his work.
During the pandemic, he had a conversation with another former lieutenant governor – Mark Singel – about a book he published through Sunbury Press about the time he spent as acting governor during Bob Casey’s serious medical issues.
Ultimately, Stack began working on a book of his own, and the finished product has quite the title: City of Brotherly Blood: My Political Adventure of Power, Corruption and Redemption in Philadelphia.
“I like the title,” he said. “It is a blood sport.”
Stack’s book was published by Radio Free Press, an imprint of Sunbury Press. He thanked editor Sarah Peachey for her contributions.
“I’m happy with the way it came out,” he said. “It was written on a timeline, and it goes quickly. The reader comments said they had fun reading it.”
Stack, a Democrat from Somerton, is the grandson of a congressman. His mom, Felice, is a retired Municipal Court judge. His late dad, Mike, was a prominent lawyer and ward leader who was his son’s political mentor.
At 25, he unsuccessfully challenged Republican Sen. Hank Salvatore in 1988. He lost a rematch four years later. He sat out in 1996 to work on Bill Clinton’s re-election campaign.
Then, in 1999, he lost a race for City Council at large.
In politics, three strikes and you’re usually out.
But in 2000, Stack wrote in the book, state Sen. Vince Fumo and Rep. Mike McGeehan pledged their support. This time, he ousted Salvatore and went on to serve until 2014, always serving in the minority and losing a bid for minority leader in 2010.
In 2014, he became the first Philadelphian to be elected lieutenant governor.
As the book details, it was a turbulent four years, and he lost the Democratic primary in 2018.
In the book, Stack has kind words for his parents and wife, Tonya, for always supporting his efforts.
Stack also praises late family friends Pat and Jim McGinley for their loyalty.
“Pat and Jim and the McGinley family were always there,” he said.
Stack does not have kind words for Salvatore (or his proposal to move the Northeast into Liberty County), Gov. Tom Wolf, IBEW Local 98 boss John Dougherty or longtime city elections commissioner and ward leader Marge Tartaglione.
He even dismisses the Northeast Times as a “local partisan rag” for reporting on his dad’s indictment on election fraud charges.
Stack said the book does a good job chronicling his career.
“I’ve had some ups and downs,” he said.
Since leaving office, he hasn’t been back on the ballot. Fumo wanted him to challenge Councilman Brian O’Neill in 2019, and Stack had interest in his old Senate seat when John Sabatina Jr. became a judge in 2022. He endorsed Allan Domb in the 2023 mayoral race.
At 62, he’s not ruling out a future run.
“I have more to offer. I don’t close the door on making a new mark in public service and politics,” he said.
Outside of politics, he’s the CEO of a telemedicine company and hopes to attract interest for a proposed screenplay, Favorite Son (based, in part, on his book).
He’s dyed his hair blond, done standup comedy (performing at the famed Ice House in Pasadena, California), appeared with his wife as Julius Caesar and Cleopatra on Let’s Make a Deal and acted in episodes of Judge Mathis and Find Me a Luxury Home on HGTV and in a 2024 short sci-fi thriller, Chomp.
Stack is enjoying himself in a post-pandemic world: actor, comic, game show contestant and, now, author.
“I’m trying everything,” he said. “It’s all about the adventure.” ••
The book is available on Amazon or at sunburypress.com.
