School Reform Commission gets two new members

One new member of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission sailed through a state Senate vote unanimously yesterday, but another drew questions for his role as head of a lobbying group.

State Sen. Larry Farnese was one of three Philadelphia-area Democrats who voted against Republican David Girard-DiCarlo, a lawyer and former U.S. ambassador to Austria. Shirley Kitchen and Leanna Washington were the other no votes.

Democrat Joseph Dworetzky was appointed without opposition.

Farnese said he respects Girard-DiCarlo, but he worries about his new job as head of a lobbying and government relations subsidiary of the Cozen O'Connor law firm.

"It's a very likely possibility that they will be in conflict at some point with the interests of the City of Philadelphia and the school district, and to me, that's unresolvable," said Farnese.

Farnese said he was troubled that Girard-DiCarlo did not mention the new role during a hearing before the Senate Education Committee.

Reached last night, Girard-DiCarlo, who lives in Farnese's district, said he was "absolutely insulted" by Farnese's position.

"My law firm will have nothing to do with anything that might harm the interests of the school district," he said. What's more, Cozen O'Connor would receive no financial benefit, he said, as a result of his seat on the commission.

Farnese said several constituents called his office upset about the resignation of Heidi Ramirez, the Temple University staffer who resigned in August after difficulties with Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.

He would have preferred the two new members be educators, but "that's not what we were presented," Farnese said.

Dworetzky's candidacy seemed in doubt until just after Ramirez's resignation, when Gov. Rendell and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) agreed to support Dworetzky and Girard-DiCarlo.

Dworetzky, a lawyer, replaces James Gallagher, who left the commission after his term expired in January.