If you read The Phoenix newspaper yesterday, you would know that Senator Arlen Specter was in town recently, to talk about issues in Phoenixville.
What you won’t read in the story is the behind-the-scenes grab for an endorsement by the Ciarrocchi campaign, even though the Senator was here on official US Government business, driven in a US Government car, powered by US Government funded gas, all courtesy of your tax dollars.
For a man who talks a lot about reform, Guy sure tried hard to get Specter to break a few ethics rules.
We find it amusing that Guy should even ask for Specter’s endorsement. Considering in 1993, when Pat Toomey was running against Specter in the primary, Guy just couldn’t make up his mind between the two.
Of course, the Senator kept his visit to Phoenixville on an appropriate level. When asked by a reporter if he had any thoughts about the 157th race, he appropriately responded that he was there on business and therefore would not comment. This despite the efforts of Guy and his campaign manager who assured someone by phone that Guy would “be endorsed” by the Senator that morning.
You know, for someone who talks about how he would end the scandals of Bonusgate in Harrisburg and who has been a Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill, Guy might want to brush up on his ethics rules.
For example, Guy might want to assure the voters of the 157th, that when he was busy getting all those petitions signed in January and February and kicking off his campaign, that he didn’t cross the line. Guy, as many of you know, was the Chief of Staff for Jim Gerlach, a job you, the taxpayer, paid him for. Handsomely:
Guy Ciarrocchi, Congressional Staffer – Salary Data
| Employing Office |
Start date |
End date |
Position |
Amount |
Notes |
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
04/01/08 |
04/30/08 |
Chief of Staff |
$11,402.22 |
|
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
01/03/08 |
03/31/08 |
Chief of Staff |
$35,861.11 |
|
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
01/01/08 |
01/02/08 |
Chief of Staff |
$788.88 |
|
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
10/01/07 |
12/31/07 |
Chief of Staff |
$35,499.99 |
|
| |
| FY 2008 subtotal: |
$83,552.20 |
|
| |
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
07/01/07 |
09/30/07 |
Chief of Staff |
$35,499.99 |
|
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
04/01/07 |
06/30/07 |
Chief of Staff |
$35,499.99 |
|
| Jim Gerlach Pennsylvania-6th) |
01/03/07 |
03/31/07 |
Chief of Staff |
$34,711.10 |
|
| |
| FY 2007 subtotal: |
$105,711.08 |
|
$140,000 taxpayer dollars a year. Not too shabby. And getting that paycheck in January, February, March and April must have been nice, even as he was busy gathering such an impressive number of petition signatures and engaging in other campaign activities.
We think it is incumbent upon Guy to reassure the voters that he did not engage in any campaign related activity while he was being paid by the taxpayers of this state during business hours. That would mean that up until the day he resigned, he did not attend any campaign events, knock on any doors, make any phone calls, nor did he use a state-issued cell phone or computer or gas paid for by the taxpayers to drive him anywhere, for any campaign related activities during regular hours.
Let’s examine an email to his supporters from Guy Ciarrocchi, the Congressional Chief of Staff, being paid $140,000 taxpayer dollars a year, from February of this year, before he took his leave of absence. As you can see, he had a fundraiser in Harrisburg, and on this day – a Thursday (isn’t the US Government open on Thursdays?) – he is heading to D.C. for another fundraiser. We wonder what time of day that event was happening? (And we are glad that he is willing to fit a few events in for the “constituents to attend” – haha). We sure hope he managed to get some of the taxpayer’s business done on the train in between campaign events:
—– Original Message —–
From: Guy Ciarrocchi
To: Guy Ciarrocchi
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:44 AM
Subject: With 250 days til Eday…
Good Morning.
Greetings from Amtrak’s train to DC.
So far, its been a great week.
I had a great fundraiser in Harrisburg on Tuesday hosted by old friends. Today, I’m off to DC for another event hosted by friends and former colleagues.
(We are planning to have a few more before the primary–event’s that will be easier for constituents to attend–haha.)
There are 250 days til the election. With your help, we’ve accomplished a great deal. Thank you.
Whether you have given me advice about the campaign or a local organization, circulated a petition or made a donation, you have helped me. Thank you.
With 250 days to go, we will have to make a number of decisions, build our team, expand our coalitions and work hard. While there are many tactics, slogans and issues to consider, it all comes down to this:
If we work harder and smarter, if we explain my record and message (a call to make government responsive and responsible–and a lifetime of experience doing that), if we raise enough money to deliver that message by TV, mail and phone, we will win.
In short this is our plan; raise money, work hard, meet voters.
We have to build a campaign that will reach out to a majority of voters, and then get them to the polls on election day.
To help us do that, I am pleased to let you know that Kristen Kirk Mayock–whom many of you know from her work with candidates, elected officials and our party–has agreed to help on a part-time basis as our campaign coordinator. (A full-time manager will follow.)
Like many of you, Kristen will help with everything. But, her primary focus will be to “help keep the trains running on time.” And, she will especially focus on helping me to reach-out to voters + community leaders: set-up meetings, coffee-klatches and prepare for door to doors.
Here is her contact information. You may also reach her at Chester County GOP Hqs, where she will be a few days a week.
Kristen Kirk Mayock
Welcome Kristen.
Our next big task will be to set-up the public campaign kick-off. We hope to be able to announce the date, time + location by early next week.
Again, thanks very much for all you are doing.
GUY CIARROCCHI, Esquire
###
We’re sure, considering Guy is so interested in reforming Harrisburg, that he kept scrupulous records, such as, if he paid for his train ticket with taxpayer dollars he calculated the percentage of his day he spent at a fundraiser for his own campaign and reimbursed us appropriately.
We’d love to hear from Guy about those records. Also, we assume we can contact the House Ethics Committee and be sure that they received the appropriate assurances that you would not mix business with politics?
What Kind of Guy thinks ethics rules apply to everyone but him?
The Wrong Guy.
Come back tomorrow for another installment of “What Kind of Guy…”
What Kind of Guy... 
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