The Cranberry resident has been an aide to two U.S. senators, a top political consultant and co-publisher of a Harrisburg newsletter called The Insider. He was an informal adviser to Bob O'Connor in last year's successful mayoral campaign. He's now a consultant to Forest City Enterprises and Harrah's Entertainment in their effort to win the license to run a casino, which they would build at Station Square. He's fine-tuning the message in what he called "a pretty nasty war" of public relations. "I have no official role with Bob O'Connor, and never did," Mr. Verbanac said.