- Council Asks that Libraries Remain Open
- Good news! City Council stands up to the mayor, says "the public have questions!"
- Be There For Health Care Today at City Hall at noon
- City Paper on the effects of the YPP poll and other online organizing on budget cuts
- Another local library group organizes
- Kids organizing in Mantua to keep their library to open
- Talk solutions with Maria Quinones-Sanchez @ PFC Meetup tonight
- Talking Out of Both Sides on Libraries
- Vince Fumo, the Charmer
- SCI Camp Hill Update—Call for Action, Increased Monitoring, Constant Vigilance
DiCicco Needs to Come Clean on His Relationship with Fumo's Lawyer
Submitted by VernAnastasio on Tue, 04/10/2007 - 12:11pm.
Democratic candidate for City Council's 1st District, Vern Anastasio, calls on his opponent, Frank DiCicco, today to detail his personal and professional relationship with Richard Sprague. Sprague is a well-known attorney currently defending DiCicco's political patron, indicted State Senator Vincent Fumo.
It is widely known that Sprague has represented DiCicco in the past.
Anastasio specifically asks DiCicco to fully disclose the instances in which Sprague represented DiCicco; the nature of the work in which Sprague represented DiCicco and the payment arrangements for such work.
Federal prosecutors are asking Richard Sprague to be removed as Fumo's attorney because Sprague has received hundreds of thousands of dollars directly from Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, the secretive non-profit founded by DiCicco, who ultimately ran the organization for years.
Sprague is also connected to the proposed Sugar House casino slated for the Delaware River Waterfront
"In the spirit of open, transparent government, the people have a right to know DiCicco's ties to Sprague so that voters can make an informed decision on Election Day. For most reform-minded people who want to see a more ethical government in City Hall, the Fumo-DiCicco-Sprague connection is troubling. DiCicco should come clean to remove any hint of impropriety", Anastasio said, "after all, as far as I'm concerned, a district councilperson is a public servant."
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Yes, let's have a client
Yes, let's have a client come and tell people what their attorney did to represent them and their interests. As a practicing attorney who takes my oath and the Rules of Professional Conduct very seriously, I think this post is disappointing. No client should have to divulge such things and be open to embarrasment just because they sought counsel. In particular this:
"Anastasio specifically asks DiCicco to fully disclose the instances in which Sprague represented DiCicco; the nature of the work in which Sprague represented DiCicco and the payment arrangements for such work."
I'm sorry if this is harsh but, sometimes, lay people have to be told that yes, clients have rights that attorneys must protect. I would not ask or instruct my client to do such a thing. Further, for any impropriety by an attorney, there is a judicial method to handle it. And, regardless of what we think of his clients, Dick Sprague is one of Philadelphia's greatest lawyers--ever. The bar respects him for a reason. We do not always get to pick our clients--now it seems that will be an issue.
I thought the opponent was Frank DiCicco--not Dick Sprague. I thought the issues were crime, development and quality of life--not representation by counsel.
What this says to me is--Attorneys be wary of entering public life, lest your counsel will be an issue. Clients--be concerned about who your lawyer is. Not a particularly good message when, in my industry, discretion and protection of rights is on the line.
Vern's no layperson.
He's supposed to be a lawyer for God's sake.
Vern will not win the First District, but I hereby nominate him for an Oscar as "Stunt Man of the Year". All stunts, all day, all the time.
www.jameskenney.com
www.311forphilly.com
Lord Help Us
if he is an attorney! He should really wage a campaign that does not smack of desperate demands. He is also, if he is an attorney, aware of the ethical obligations. Let's keep this about the issues and talk about what you as a candidate brings to the table (that being the residents of your district)!
I Agree
and feel that it is only the fact that he is not a lawyer that he would even think that his remarks are appropriate. If the relationship was such that it invaded into the realm of the present indictment, not to worry, the prosecutors would have revealed this information.
The fact that a request of this nature was made, suggests to me that the candidate, rather than discussing the issues important to his campaign and important to the citizens of Philadelphia, is beginning a campaign of insinuation, innuendo and other negatives. Let's let the voters decide on the issues and merits.