Former Philadelphia councilman set to be released from prison

A former Philadelphia City Councilman is expected to be transferred to a halfway house today in the Juniata Park section of the city. If he’s ready to work at his profession before entering politics, there could be a job in his future.

A former Philadelphia City Councilman is expected to be transferred to a halfway house today in the Juniata Park section of the city. If he’s ready to work at his profession before entering politics, there could be a job in his future.

Rick Mariano was an electrician before working as a city council aide and then a councilman before serving time for corruption. Electricians Local 98 head John Dougherty says Mariano is free to go back to his old profession since he’s kept up his dues with the union.

“The day that he gets out from incarceration he will be eligible to go to work, and we have the ability in our industry you can go get your own job. Ricky could come out at 12 o’clock and at 12:01 he could go get a job as a union electrician in the five county region in fact all over the country to be honest with you.”

Dougherty says if Mariano comes to the union hall he will be treated just as any other unemployed electrician. He says about 15 percent of the workforce is seeking a job on any given day.