State senator Vincent Fumo, one of the leading powerbrokers in Pennsylvania politics for the last generation, plans to give up his reelection bid and retire from the legislature at the end of the year.
Fumo, 64, still recovering from a heart attack 10 days ago, plans to announce his decision this morning at a press conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, according to an informed source. At Fumo’s side will be Gov. Rendell, who said last week that he would support Fumo for another term if the senator asked for his endorsement.
Fumo faces three challengers in the Democratic primary on April 22, and perhaps a more difficult test next September, when he is scheduled for a federal trial on a 139-count corruption indictment. Even if he survived the primary, he’d have to endure a general election campaign with daily headlines coming out of his federal trial, revolving around charges that he benefitted personally from the operations of a non-profit community group called the Citizens Alliance for Better Neighborhoods.
Go Anne!