Vincent Fumo

Infobox State Senator


imagesize = 150px
name = Vince Fumo
width =
height =
caption =
state = Pennsylvania
state_senate = Pennsylvania
district = 1st
term_start = 1978
term_end = present
predecessor = Buddy Cianfrani
successor = Incumbent
constituency =
majority =
party = Democratic
date of birth = Birth date and age|1943|5|8|mf=y
place of birth =Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
occupation =
alma_mater =
spouse = divorced
residence =Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
religion = Roman Catholiccite news
last =Gazarik
first =Richard
title =A passion for politics
publisher =Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
date =2005-07-31
url =http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_357844.html
accessdate = 2007-05-04 ]
website =

Vincent Joseph "Vince" Fumo (born May 8, 1943) is a State Senator, lawyer and businessman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Fumo holds a B.S. from Villanova University ('62), a law degree from Temple University School of Law ('72) and an MBA ('84) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Constitution Center [http://www.constitutioncenter.org] in Philadelphia, a museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. Fumo has pursued an array of interests over his life as he is also a licensed electrician, pilot, and boat captain.

Senator Fumo has represented South Philadelphia's 1st Senatorial District since 1978 when he succeeded Buddy Cianfrani, who had been convicted of racketeering, bribery and obstruction of justice. Fumo was the Democrat ranking Member of the Senate appropriations committee until his federal indictment in February 2007. He also serves on the Communications & Technology, Consumer Protection, Game & Fisheris, Rules, & Urban Affairs & Housing Committees.

In addition to his State Senate work, Fumo is associated with the Philadelphia Law firm of Dilworth Paxson LLP. He was the Chairman of First Penn Bank. The bank was originally founded as Pennsylvania Savings Bank, by his grandfather. Fumo took over control after his father was convicted of bank fraud in 1976. The bank grew rapidly under Fumo's control from $1.5 million in assets to about $550 million, and was eventually sold in 2007 for $94 million, potentially netting $19 million for Fumo. [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/fumo/Vincent_J_Fumo_A_High-Impact_Controversial_Career.html]

Fumo was hospitalized on March 2, 2008 after suffering a heart attack at his home. He underwent a successful emergency angioplasty at Hahnemann University Hospital and was released on March 9, 2008. [cite video | title = Action News | medium = television | publisher = WPVI | location = Philadelphia | date = March 2, 2008 ] [cite web |url=http://www.myfoxphilly.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5978036&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1 |title=Fumo Released From Hospital After Heart Attack | accessdate = 2008-03-09|date=March 9, 2008 |publisher=Fox Interactive Media]

On March 12, 2008, Fumo announced he was dropping his bid for reelection and retiring from public service, citing his federal indictment.cite news | last =Robrish | first =Dan | title =Pa. Sen. Vincent Fumo dropping out of race, will retire | publisher =The Associated Press | date =2008-03-12 | url =http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20080312_ap_pasenvincentfumodroppingoutofracewillretire.html | accessdate = 2008-03-12 ]

Federal investigations

1974

In 1974, Fumo, along with three associates, was the target of a 44 count indictment for mail fraud. The four men, who included the Majority Leader of the State Senate, the head of the Democratic City Executive Committee, and the Chief Clerk of the State House were accused of helping convicted Senator Cianfrani, add 33 ghost employees to the state payroll. At the time, Fumo was an assistant to Camiel in charge of patronage. [https://www.fastcase.com/Yahoo/Start.aspx?C=3dcaff25782258e4c92f2ab51c1326c606779c06c08f9326&D=6ef6c317680eefcfa5dee6a92c3776b8865effef68ae673e&AffiliateConst=Yahoo]

In 1978, Fumo was convicted by a jury of 15 counts. However, a federal judge overturned the conviction in 1981 after motions by the defense to acquit.cite news
title =3 Mail Fraud Convictions Upset in Pennsylvania
publisher =AP/NY Times
date =1981-08-05
url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E3DF143BF936A3575BC0A967948260
accessdate = 2007-05-04 ]

2004-2008

Fumo has been the subject of a federal investigation which resulted in his indictment in 2007. The investigation related to a charity run by the Senator called the Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods which was run by a former member of the Senator's staff. In 2004, PECO, a subsidiary of Exelon, donated $17 million to the organization. Federal prosecutors began an investigation as to whether Fumo had forced the utility to make the donation by initially opposing, then supporting, utility deregulation in the state. There were also allegations that Fumo had used the charity's funds for personal benefit.

In late May 2006, two of Senator Fumo’s staffers were arrested and indicted on charges of destroying electronic evidence, including e-mail related to the investigation. The charges were based on e-mails sent by the aides, in which they suggested that Fumo ordered destruction of the documentation.cite news
last =Hinkelman
first =Michael
title =Fumo receives "target letter"
publisher =Philadelphia Daily News
date =2007-01-12
url =http://www.thenextmayor.com/vault/20070112fumo_probe.html
accessdate = 2007-05-04 ] cite news
last =Mauriello
first =Tracie
title =Two Fumo aides accused of destroying evidence in FBI probe of senator
publisher =Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
date =2006-06-01
url =http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06152/694765-85.stm
accessdate = 2007-05-04 ]

On February 6, 2007, a Federal grand jury named Fumo in a 139-count indictment, alleging mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and filing a false tax return. Charges include using state workers to oversee construction of his mansion, spy on his ex-wife and work on his farm. Additionally, the indictment accused him of misusing $1 million of state funds and $1 million from his charity for personal and campaign use and commandeering yachts from the Philadelphia Seaport Museum for personal travel.cite news
title =Feds: Fumo Used State Workers As Personal Servants
publisher =CBS 3 (Philadelphia)
date =2007-02-06
url =http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_037110942.html
accessdate = 2007-05-04 ]

Immediately before the indictment was handed down, Fumo resigned his position as the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee and vowed to fight the charges.

On March 12, 2008, at a press conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Fumo announced he was dropping his bid for reelection under stress, saying that the charges against him left "a cloud hanging over [his] head." However, he will be completing his current term which ends at the end of the year at the insistence of Governor Ed Rendell who was present at the press conference. Fumo also added that the decision had nothing to do with his health issues.

Trivia

* Fumo infamously called Republican President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer a "faggot" on the floor of the Pennsylvania Senate during a debate on slot machine gambling.
* Fumo is a member of Mensa International, the high IQ society.
* Fumo had the South Philadelphia Branch of the Free Library renamed for his family.

References

2^ Philadelphia Inquirer Online, "Vincent J. Fumo: A High-Impact, Controversial Career." Philadelphia Inquirer 13 Mar 2008 24 Apr 2008 .

External links

* [http://www.fumo.com/ State Senator Vincent J. Fumo] official website
* [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=270 Pennsylvania State Legislature - Senator Vincent Fumo] official PA Senate website
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=5439 Project Vote Smart - Senator Vincent J. Fumo (PA)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Vincent J Fumo
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88245 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=64851 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=49346 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=49024 2000] campaign contributions
* [http://inquirer.philly.com/rss/News/2007fumoindictment.pdf 2007 Federal indictment]