Pay-to-Play Perrucci Tapped For Lehigh County Chief PD

About eighteen months ago, back when he was still regularly attending Council meetings, Lamont McClure tried his best to have Bethlehem attorney Christian Perrucci appointed as Northampton County Council's Solicitor. McClure actually went so far as to take it upon himself to fire Council's then Solicitor, and over the Christmas holiday, with absolutely no authority from other Council members.

For that little stunt, McClure was awarded a coveted Express Times turkey. But Perrucci remained first choice of Northampton County machine Democrats. Lame duck council member Diane Neiper asked council members to appoint Perrucci. So did then Council Prez Ann McHale. They needed five votes, but could only get four. So sad.

Why were they so hot for Perrucci? Is he a municipal law expert? Home rule scholar? Nah. Much better than that, he's a pay-to-play specialist.

Pennsylvania campaign finance records place Perrucci very solidly in the "pay to play" camp. In just three years, this young lawyer has already contributed $14,550 to state office candidates. This includes $4,000 to convicted state house Democratic whip Mike Veon, who was sentenced last month to 6-14 years in prison for his involvement in Bonusgate. Another $1,000 found its way to former state house Democratic whip and payjacker Bill DeWeese, who has also been charged.

Did I mention that Perruccis just love Don Cunningham? In the last two years, he's picked up $7,800 from John and Christian. To be fair, Christian also gave $1,000 to Pay to Play Pawlowski. I'm sure King Edwin will remember this loyal vassal.

Perruccis like John Callahan, too. Christine Perrucci has already maxed out, with $4,800 for Callahan's Congressional bid against Charlie Dent.

Perrucci is part of a "pay to play" family. He practices law in a firm started by his father, Phillipsburg attorney Michael Perrucci, and former NJ Guv' Jim Florio. Like his son, Michael is very generous to Democratic candidates for state office, and has contributed at least $25,730 over the years to Governer Rendell, John Morganelli and others. His law firm represents the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Authority, rest home for political hacks. As a Director of ClearPoint Business Resources in 2007, his total compensation was a paltry $54 million.

Who knows just how much money Christian has given to local candidates? I do know that Christian's sister, Bonnie, has contributed $200 to Lamont McClure. But it's harder to follow the money in local races.

Yesterday, Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham finally rewarded Perrucci for all those contributions with an appointment as Lehigh County’s Chief Public Defender, a part-time job that pays $53,288. Benefits, too!! Perrucci will replace current Chief Public Defender Chuck Smith, who is stepping down today.

According to a County news release, Perrucci "has extensive experience in litigation and criminal law." Really? I spoke to one of the Lehigh Valley's best criminal defense attorneys, who tells me he's never seen him in a courtroom. Now according to his biography, Christian does have some experience in Alpha, N.J., prosecuting speeders and jaywalkers, so he's got that going for him. But I have to wonder what the hell he'll be advising indigent defendants. That they should learn to pay peoplwe off like he does?

Perrucci’s nomination now goes to the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners Intergovernmental Committee for confirmation on July 28.

Maybe he should write out a few checks for them, too.

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.

McClure Wants a "Pay to Play" Council Solicitor

Northampton County Council member Lamont McClure, supposedly an attorney, should really spend a little more time reading the law. If he ever bothered to glance at the Home Rule Charter, for example, he'd know that the appointment of its solicitor is a decision for the entire council, not any single member. Not even council's president has unilateral authority to hire or fire its lawyer.

Yet that's precisely what Lamont did. In a condescending letter to Interim Solicitor Anthony Martino, McClure instructs that because he'd like another lawyer to represent council, the entire body is sacking him.

If McClure has reached a consensus with four other members of council to replace Martino, that occurred at no public meeting. Martino was appointed October 16 by County Council resolution. If five members of council have decided to change course, their decision is a violation of the Sunshine Act, which requires council business to be conducted in public.

Either way you cut it, McClure's letter to Martino is a nullity. He has either exceeded the power of a sole council member or has violated the Sunshine Act. Butto McClure, the ends justify the means. He justifies ignoring the law, telling The Express Times "It's time to get some new blood into the solicitor's chair."

It's not so much new blood, but blueblood. McClure wants to replace Martino with Bethlehem attorney Christian Perrucci, who has spent that last month lobbying individual council members for this $49,000 part-time job.

Pennsylvania campaign finance records place Perrucci very solidly in the "pay to play" camp. In just two years, this young lawyer has already contributed $12,775 to Democrats seeking state offices. This includes $1,650 for Northampton County DA John Morganelli's failed AG bid. It includes $4,000 to former state house Democratic whip Mike Veon, currently under indictment for Bonusgate, and another $1,000 to current state house Democratic whip and payjacker Bill DeWeese.

Perrucci is part of a "pay to play" family. He practices law in a firm started by his father, Phillipsburg attorney Michael Perrucci, and former NJ Guv' Jim Florio. Like his son, Michael is very generous to Democratic candidates for state office, and has contributed at least $25,730 over the years to Governer Rendell, John Morganelli and others. His law firm represents the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Authority, rest home for political hacks. As a Director of ClearPoint Business Resources in 2007, his total compensation was a paltry $54 million.

Even Christian's sister, Bonnie Perrucci, gets into the act. She's contributed $200 to Lamont McClure.

In contrast to the Perrucci bluebloods, Martino is a Roseto piker. Over his lengthy legal career, he's made just five political contributions, totalling $250. They've all gone to judicial candidates. He's a lawyer, not a pol. He's no "pay to play" aficionado.

McClure, however, has no interest in the law, or he might try following it now and then. He is, however, very interested in "pay to play." And he's doing his best to make room for a blueblood with a very deep pocket. After all, this is an election year.

Update: Now, in addition to Perrucci, Bucks County windbag Larry Otter has just submitted his resume to council. Otter is the maroon who attempted unsuccessfully to soak Northampton County with a $2,470 private attorney bill for a few hours work when Dem party bossman Joe Long asked Otter to represent then voting registrar Debbie DePaul. His bill included $36.83 for din din at Uncle Wesleys. Stoffa refused to pay. Otter promised revenge. I guess this is it.

On the bright side, council is located very close to the Delaware River, so Otter can pop in there all the time.

Friday PM Update: A third resume circulating among Council members is Bethlehem Attorney Barbara Hollenbach, who was instrumental in naming Council Prez Ann McHale as the Bethlehem YWCA "Outstanding Public Servant of the Year."