Mariano submits resignation, apology
By Michael Currie Schaffer and John Shiffman
Inquirer Staff Writers

Convicted City Councilman Rick Mariano submitted a letter of resignation to
Council's president yesterday, admitting he had betrayed his constituents.

[QUOTE (moved from bottom of article] To make up for his misdeeds, Mariano said, he would like "to go to Iraq or
Afghanistan and teach government or teach basic electrical theory."[quote]


The letter, also presented to a federal judge in court yesterday morning,
expressed Mariano's "sincere apology for the dishonor I have brought on
this legislative body."

The councilman was convicted of 18 counts of bribery, fraud,
money-laundering and conspiracy on March 17. Advisory sentencing guidelines
call for six to 10 years in prison.

"I also expressly apologize to the people of the Seventh Councilmanic
District," read the typewritten letter. "I violated their trust and I am
truly sorry."

He added: "I take full responsibility for my actions. I will face the
circumstances of such actions and I am looking forward to reordering my
life in a constructive way."

The resignation takes effect Monday, which allows Mariano to retain his
health benefits through the end of the month.

City Council President Anna C. Verna said she was uncertain when she might
call a special election to fill Mariano's seat. In the meantime, Verna
said, she will keep the office open with a skeleton staff for
constituent-service needs.

Mariano brought the letter to court during a hearing in which U.S. District
Judge Lawrence F. Stengel agreed to let him switch attorneys from trial
lawyer Nino V. Tinari to former prosecutor Thomas Bergstrom. Mariano made
the change after his recent decision to start cooperating with federal
authorities.

Tinari has said he does not represent clients who cooperate with the
government.

Mariano was scheduled to be sentenced June 1, but Stengel said he would
move that date into mid-July so that the councilman's new lawyer would have
time to review the case.

News of Mariano's resignation was not entirely unexpected at City Hall,
despite the councilman's vow to stay in the $102,000-per-year job until
sentencing. Mariano visited Verna last week to ask about the logistics of a
resignation.

"He wanted to know what would happen to his pension," Verna said. "I think
he already knew.

"He loses everything - pension, health care, retirement," Verna said.
"Everything he has is gone."

Whether the seat is filled through a special election or allowed to stay
vacant until the current Council term expires in 2007 is up to Verna. She
said yesterday that she had not made up her mind.

A special election differs from an ordinary election in that each nominee
is chosen by party ward leaders. As a result, the decision to call such an
election often involves significant amounts of political horse-trading. The
earliest likely date for a special election is November.

Mariano's personal office was in the process of being packed starting last
week. Shipping boxes were stacked on the floor. His desktop was cluttered
with souvenirs of a decade in office, including a bag full of political
buttons and a five-year-old issue of the Philadelphia Daily News cover
story on the ethics woes of former Councilman Angel Ortiz, a Mariano rival.

Also on his desk was a framed picture of a tuxedo-clad Mariano alongside
labor leader John J. Dougherty Jr., his fellow electrician and political
patron until the two parted company last year. Taped over Dougherty's face
was a drawing of a head with devil horns.

"When we started out in this business, we were about 30 people working
together," Dougherty said yesterday. "Twenty-nine of us are still together.
Guess which one isn't?"

Mariano did not return a call for comment yesterday afternoon. Earlier, he
appeared to be in good spirits in the courtroom, bantering with both
Bergstrom and Tinari and launching barbs at the press.

After he handed Tinari a copy of his resignation letter, a reporter asked
to have one, too.

"I've got something for you, and it's not a letter," Mariano quipped.

Asked after the hearing about what he would do now, Mariano said: "I'm
looking for a job." Pressed for details, he responded: "I'm an
electrician."

Interviewed last night on 6ABC, Mariano reiterated his apology and spoke of
his newfound religious feeling.

"People think that everyone jumps on the God bandwagon when it's
convenient," he said. "But that's what He's there for."

To make up for his misdeeds, Mariano said, he would like "to go to Iraq or
Afghanistan and teach government or teach basic electrical theory."

Hmmm....Iraq and Afghanistan are overrun by corruption and easily exploitable due to the chaos. Coincidence?