Rizzo Moving On After 16 Years In Office
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Longtime Philadelphia City Councilman Frank Rizzo (pictured) was the surprise loser in the recent Republican primary. He's back at work, saying he's ready to move on after his elected duties are over, later this year.
Rizzo came bounding into council chambers feeling robust, after the agonizing upset in the primary, and to top it off, root canal the following day. Yes, after 16 years of constituent service on council, he does attribute the loss to his enrollment in the controversial DROP pension program.
"In politics, it gets down to this: people remember what you did last (that old cliché) rather than all of the good work that you accomplished," Rizzo says. "I guess that could happen in any profession."
So, after four terms in council, Rizzo, like his dad, the former Mayor, says politics is a fickle business, "You hopefully want to win, but you certainly have to be prepared to lose."
As he and his colleagues retool the DROP program, Rizzo says the remaining sitting council members eligible for it could lose an election, as it plays out.
"I'm proud of what I have accomplished," Rizzo says. "I'll walk out of here with my head high, maybe not perfect, but I've done some good stuff."
What might he do after four terms in Council?
Rizzo may resume that talk radio routine. "I'm available."
Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060
