Jack Kelly

Philadelphia media relations guru Frank Keel is reportedly considering a stint in City Hall.

Keel, a communications consultant best known for his work as a spokesman for powerful electricians union leader John Dougherty, could soon end up as a spokesman for embattled City Councilman Jack Kelly, the Daily News reports.

There is no indication that Keel would work for Kelly's office full time, nor that he would stop working for Dougherty. Kelly, whose chief of staff and campaign treasurer were indicted last month for an alleged scheme to get favors out of the councilman's office, is worried about political fallout, and wants the city to foot the bill for a $25,000 media consultant.

Kelly said he wanted Keel, the Daily News reports, but City Council President Anna Verna said Kelly had to open the job contract to bids. Keel, who worked on Kelly's recent campaign, plans to enter a bid.

Philadelphia City Councilman Jack Kelly has accepted his indicted chief of staff's request for an unpaid leave of absence, Kelly said in a statement released by his lawyer today.

In his statement, Kelly called Chris Wright "a loyal and effective City employee for many years" who "deserves the presumption of innocence." Kelly also said he would welcome Wright back if he is cleared of corruption charges.

Promising a smooth transition as his legislative director took over Wright's duties, Kelly closed by insisting "this is all I will say" on the matter until legal proceedings are concluded.

That Kelly has stayed largely silent on the matter could prove politcally troublesome should he seek reelection in 3 years.

The chief of staff to Philadelphia City Councilman Jack Kelly will likely lose his job today, at least temporarily, two weeks after he was indicted in a federal corrpution case, the Daily News reports.

Chris Wright, along with another aide to Kelly and two developers, are charged with trying to get favors from Kelly's office. Kelly has not addressed the matter publicly, and while it could prove to be politically troublesome for him down the road, he will keep his silence today, the Daily News reports.

Rather, Kelly's lawyer is expected to reveal the councilman's decision about Wright. 

Philadelphia City Councilman Jack Kelly could be in political trouble, after his chief of staff and campaign treasurer were indicted this month for allegedly trying to deliver favors from the at-large councilman's office to two developers also charged in the case.

At first, it seemed like the case, in which Kelly has not been implicated, would be just another small-time City Hall indictment story that would fade into the woodwork. But the topic has stayed alive, albeit barely, in the local media. And while Kelly has not even stated whether he would run for re-election when his current term ends in three years -- his spokesman declined to speculate -- how the case develops could surely play a role in any future campaign against him.

Kelly, a Republican, only narrowly defeated challenger David Oh for re-election last year, in a race so close that a recount had the candidates 21 votes apart at one point. The race is difficult to forecast this far off. But with a growing band of younger Republicans seemingly looking to nudge out elements of the old guard, Kelly, who has been voted out of Council before and occupies one of the at-large seats guaranteed to the minority party by the City Charter, would certainly have vulnerabilities.