Free Republic

Sue Aitken called the police because she was worried about her son Brian. She now lives with the guilt of knowing her phone call is the reason Brian wound up sitting in a New Jersey prison. If it weren’t for a commutation of his sentence from the governor’s mansion, he would be stuck there for the next seven years. Aitken was sentenced in August for felony possession of a handgun. Before his arrest, Aitken, the owner of a media consulting business, had no criminal record. By all appearances he made a good-faith effort to comply with the stringent New Jersey...

DENVER--For months, former Philadelphia City Controller Joe Vignola was planning to run as an independent for the 1st Senatorial District seat long held by retiring and indicted state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia). But when Fumo dropped out of what became a tightly-contested April primary that was taken by young Center City lawyer Larry Farnese, Vignola, a lifelong Democrat, decided not to run because it would cause trouble for the party's nominee. With Democrats overwhelmingly outnumbering Republicans in the district, Republican Jack Morley is not expected to fare well in November. During a cocktail party here Monday evening for the state...

Fumo's flub has foes on attack James Tayoun Jr. wants the state senator's name off the primary ballot over a false signature.By Mario F. Cattabiani and Craig R. McCoyInquirer Staff Writers State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, a veteran of seven elections, somehow forgot to fill in "Item 7" on his nomination petition, required of all candidates.All the line required was that he state his polling place.Now, his political opponents are accusing the South Philadelphia Democrat of fraud in an election tangle that, potentially, could cost him his spot on the primary ballot.Yesterday, Fumo won a reprieve from a state judge....