Frank Rizzo Jr.

Francis Silvestri Rizzo[1] (born March 5, 1943) is an American politician. He is the son of former Philadlephia Mayor Frank Rizzo and served as a Republican and Independent member of the Philadelphia City Council for sixteen years.[2]

Frank Rizzo Jr.
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the At-Large District
In office
January 8, 1996 – January 2, 2012
Preceded byJoan Specter
Succeeded byDenny O'Brien
Personal details
Born (1943-03-05) March 5, 1943
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (since 2013)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (1996–2011)
Independent (2011–2012)
FatherFrank Rizzo

Career

He was elected to a Philadelphia City Council-at-Large seat in 1995. He defeated Councilwoman Joan Specter, wife of then-U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. He shares his father's support of labor and community organizations. The younger Rizzo easily won re-election as councilman-at-large in 1999, 2003 and 2007.

In 2011, he finished seventh out of nine candidates in the Republican primary, following his participation in the controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), under which he received a lump-sum payment from his city pension while continuing to receive his salary as a member of the city council. He was not a candidate in the general election. After his defeat, he left the Republican Party and became an independent.

In November 2013, he announced that he was joining the Democratic Party.[3]

References
  1. "Chip Off Old Mayor? Rizzo Jr. Eyeing Council Bid", Philadelphia Daily News
  2. "Frank L. Rizzo Jr - Councilman-At-Large". City of Philadelphia official website. City Council, City of Philadelphia. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  3. "Frank Rizzo to become Democrat, may run for mayor in 2015", Philly.com. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
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