Editorial for January 12, 2006


Hit the road, Rick

It’s time for Richard T. Mariano to go.

The three-term city councilman, who goes by the name of Rick and is beloved by many, despised by others, is in a heap of hot water, legally and politically. He’s under a 26-count indictment on corruption charges and is facing trial in federal court in March.

Make no mistake, gentle voters of the 7th Councilmanic District and beyond — Mr. Mariano is absolutely presumed innocent and has been convicted of absolutely nothing. But, and this is a big but, his constituents — the many Joe and Josephine Averages in rowhouse Philly whom he once typified so well and who, in a weird way, found his shoot-from-the-hip straight talk downright refreshing — are not being served by a guy who reportedly was so out of touch with reality that he didn’t even know who his ex-chief of staff was.

Mr. Mariano is a drag on the city and its collective conscience. For the good of the people, it’s time for him to step aside, if only in the form of a leave of absence until his legal woes are resolved.

Just as the late Councilman Thacher Longstreth should have stepped down when he was physically unable to serve three years ago, Mr. Mariano is politically impotent and should vacate his post at once.
There is still time for Council President Anna Verna to schedule a special election to coincide with the May 16 primary election.

Surely, Mr. Mariano and Mrs. Verna can reach a gentleperson’s agreement that the winner of the special election — a caretaker councilman, if you will — would step down if Mr. Mariano is cleared of all charges. That, of course, would pave the way for an exonerated Mr. Mariano to return to Council. Until then, the public is getting a raw deal. ••

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