‘Just a citizen’ soon for five on Council

Regardless of next week’s primary election results, Thursday’s City Council meeting marked the last time members Frank DiCicco, Jack Kelly, Joanie Krajewski, Donna Reed-Miller and Anna Verna won’t have an heir apparent waiting for their seats.

None of those D.R.O.P.-enrolled officials sought re-election and when Thursday’s meeting ended around noon, several discussed whether it felt any different knowing voters will have voted on eventual replacements before the next session May 26.

“These seats are not our seats. They don’t belong to us. Joan, Frank, we all realize they belong to the people in the city of Philadelphia,” said Kelly, who served from 1987 to 1991 and since 2004. “Eventually, all these seats will have different people in them, so no, there’s not a sentimental feel right now.”

Added Krajewski, who’s served since 1979, “What he said, that’s exactly right.”

DiCicco said he’ll still be working in, and for, the 1st District voters through year’s end and hearkened back to being in Philadelphia’s “political soup for the past 44 years.”

“There will definitely be some adjustment period when I go back to being just a citizen,” said DiCicco, a councilman since 1995.

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