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Philly Election Commissioner Barks Over Corruption Question

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The city's top election official isn't taking too kindly to reporters' questions about the recent resignation of her top deputy, who is also her daughter.  The daughter was fined for conducting campaign activities on the job, which violates the city's ethics code (see related story).

Longtime city commissioner Marge Tartaglione faced questions about the departure of her daughter, Renee Tartaglione, who had worked in her mother's office for 27 years, most recently as deputy.

The city's Ethics Board found that Renee had engaged in political activities on the job and fined her $2,700.  At the commission's regular weekly meeting, the elder Tartaglione became irate when one reporter asked if the entire office was corrupt.

"I don't work for any candidate but my own, even my daughter's, all right?" Marge Tartaglione snapped back.  "You're a liberal paper aren't you?  You want all the liberals to read this, like this office is corrupt.  You say that, I can jump over this table and punch you out.  This is not corrupt!"

Tartaglione, who is 77, oversees all elections in the city.

Reported by City Hall Bureau chief Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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