Rizzo Says He'll Run For Fifth Term Even Without GOP Backing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Republican City Committee of Philadelphia meets tonight to endorse candidates for the May GOP primary, and among those not expected to be endorsed is an incumbent city councilman, Frank Rizzo Jr.
Rizzo is seeking his fifth term in office, and says he is fully prepared to campaign even without the endorsement of the local GOP.
"My father wasn't endorsed by this Republican party in 1991 and turned out to be the victor in the Republican primary then. So I don't look at not being endorsed as the end of the world," Rizzo told KYW Newsradio.
The younger Rizzo's failure to gain an endorsement apparently stems from his enrollment in the DROP pension program. If re-elected, Rizzo would have to retire for one day to get the DROP payment, then be sworn in to another term (see related story).
Rizzo calls concerns about his DROP participation "legitimate" and says he's working to have the program revised so he could now opt out.
Reported by KYW City Hall Bureau chief Mike Dunn.
