Local Government TV

Friday, February 20, 2009

Ann McHale's "Pay to Play" Solicitor Rejected by 5-4 Vote

Bethlehem attorney Christian Perrucci has spent the past few months lobbying individual council members for a $49,000 part-time job as Northampton County Council solicitor.

It's the least they could do.

Over the past two years, this young lawyer has already contributed a whopping $12,775 to Democrats seeking state offices. This includes $4,000 for former state house Democratic whip Mike Veon, currently under indictment for Bonusgate, and another $1,000 for current state house Democratic whip and payjacker Bill DeWeese.

Not surprisingly, Perrucci was the first choice of Northampton County machine Democrats when county council reorganized in January. But they only had four votes, so their attempt to inflict this campaign philanthropist upon unsuspecting taxpayers failed.

Now that Democrats have a five-four majority, they tried to bring this fox into the Northampton County henhouse for a second time last night. Lame duck council member Diane Neiper asked council members to appoint Perrucci, and Council Prez Ann McHale gravely told everyone she supports Perrucci, too. I'm sure McHale is expecting him to open his check book and finance her county exec campaign.

But not all Democrats are machine Democrats. Bangor Mayor Joe Capozzolo (you can read about him here), appointed to fill Wayne Grube's vacant seat, had other ideas. He likes county council's current solicitor, Anthony Martino.

McHale tried her best to steer the appointment to Perrucci and away from the slate belt. She even cut Ron Angle off as his made a pitch for this fellow slate belt resident. Previously, Attonry Martino was prematurely fired by council member Lamont McClure. Classless and clueless, he did it by letter over the holidays.

Merry Christmas! You're fired.

That stunt earned McClure a coveted Express Times turkey.

As Angle noted that "we've humiliated Mr. Martino enough," the Queen of Hearts cut him off in mid sentence.

"Mr. Flisser, will you please call the roll."

When the dust had settled, all four Republicans had sided with Capozzolo and Martino was selected by a five-four vote. Martino arrived a few minutes later and took his seat on the dais, but McHale offered no congratulations. Ron Angle attempted to do so, but she cut him off again.

"Please, Ron."

McHale failed to deliver the bacon for Pay to Play Perrucci. Even worse, she managed to alienate slate belt voters in the process. They tend to remember things like that.

Now don't feel sorry for poor Christian Perrucci. In late October, he gave $1,000 to Pay to Play Pawlowski. I'm sure King Edwin will remember a loyal vassal.

17 comments:

  1. Hey Villa, did you ever think that if all these people are Bernie, then there's no one here to dupe except you?

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  2. Good one anon 6:44 Villa go find somewhere else to tell your lies

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  3. Who did Perruci pay to be nominated to be County Council Solicitor ? What did Perrucci get for any of the contributions that you have published here ? If he "paid", what was his play ?

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  4. Read my post. Perrucci, in 2 short years, has paid nearly $13,000 to candidates just seeking state office. I don't even have the local stuff. Partisan Democrats on Northampton County Council obviously wish to reward him insteasd of selecting an attorney who is more qualitifed.

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  5. I am deleting Villa's 4:52 AM comment, even though two of you responded to him. Ironically, Villa has not responded to the $1,000 challenge made by Retired ASD Teacher, who has offered to meet him in person at some safe location and prove he is who he says he is. Once proved wrong, Villa has to cough up $1,000 for charity. Villa has not responded to that.

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  6. Fellows, I have a much easier (and fool-proof) way to solve this.

    "Retired ASD Teacher" worked with Mrs. Villa...had "cafeteria duty" with her, as "Retired ASD Teacher" hs said in a comment, here, a while back.

    So this is simple. "Retired ASD Teacher" (who Mrs. Villa will recognize, and, know) goes over to the Villas house and collects the thousand dollars. That's the most definitive proof we'll get here. What do you say, O'Hare? Er, I mean "Retired ASD Teacher" (wink wink).

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  7. Lots of hits on this site from the Villas. They love this blog.

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  8. Anon 10:37, READ what Retired ASD Teacher has to say about that. He WILL meet you at some safe place. Put up the $1,000. It's put up or shut up time.

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  9. I'd like to stay on topic.

    What is the beef with Chris Perrucci? He is a practicing lawyer, does his firm charge more or less than the present firm?
    How do you know what kind of legal positions they will advise the council to take, are you psychic, or are you GOD?

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  10. It does not matter what the firm charges. The Solicitor is a part-time position that is paid a certain amount no matter how much work they do or don't do.

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  11. Okay, 12:29, I didn't know they were compensated, thank you for enlightening me, but that still begs the question, how can you say he will give more favorable legal advice?
    I know that all the big law firms give to the candidates, right? So what did the other ones give to candidates, is it comparable? I think I have a legitimate question.
    Does Perrucci have ties to other interests that might conflicy with needs of government? If so, how about detailing them?

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  12. He contributed money to decision makers who later offered him a $49K part time gig.

    The appearance of impropriety is obvious - although this is normally how things are done.

    I suggest he attempt employment with the bridge commission. It's a comfy hammock for connected Ds. And Perruci has paid good money to be a connected D.

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  13. I am not Bernie. I think the Villas should get a pet to fill their void.

    The Masterduper

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  14. Gotta love this play. The comical thing is that McClure and the others who supported Perruci appointed someone to council who didn't. I would say this makes them look really stupid...Really, really stupid.. Well McClure, you kept the appointment from the courts and gave Angle his fifth vote.. Way to go. I guess he'll lose his donations from Perucci.

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  15. Hey O'Hare, has the REAL (wink wink) "Retired ASD Teacher" shown up at the Villa's house to collect your thousand dollars yet?

    I thought it was time to "put up or shut up?!" Well here's your chance!

    Do you really think people don't see through you like a pane of glass :)

    What a Tool you are.

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  16. I feel bad for Capozollo. He is going to be defined as Angle's guy which will pretty much politically putrify him.

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  17. Capozzolo will come out smelling like a rose. There is only one way for this council to go, Up.

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