His quotes were always funny and shockingly honest, making him a darling of the press, but Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo now says he is done with that chapter in his life.
Ardo, whom Rendell once called his "pithy press secretary," has informed the governor's office that he will be retiring after a budget deal is struck and the now 24-day impasse is a not-so-distant memory.
Ardo, 62, said he is leaving because the "physical and emotional toll of the job has caught up with me." The state's budget crisis has only compounded matters. Ardo's blackberry rarely stops buzzing and it's not unusual for him to be fielding phone calls from reporters - or the governor - into the wee hours of the morning.
Plus, he said, his 11-year-old grandson Dylan is coming to live with him. And anyone who knows Ardo at all can easily tell that Dylan is his number one priority and one of the biggest sources of joy in life.
Ardo, who started working for Rendell during his first gubernatorial run, doesn't know what he will do after he leaves, but said it will definitely be less "strenuous" work.
Now, there is one caveat: Ardo hasn't formally penned his letter of resignation yet.
And there are few signs that a solution to the budget deadlock will emerge anytime soon.
The way things are going, Ardo could find himself working well into the fall season.
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I think that things are about to get interesting.— 9eyes- see you later professional liar; hope your dear grandson doesn't know what a rat grandpa is.— give me liberty or death
Comment removed.- Ho Hum.— Smokey
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- Pass the Budget DAMMIT. I would like to get paid like you GOV! NO I will not get a statue of you— mkrull
- Hey Chuck When Ed calls you late at night is he with Holly?— Paulrevere
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- Rendell is "Governor X" and Chuck does not want to have to deal with that mess. By the way, why isn't the Philly papers investigating whose Governor X?— rcthompson
- The FEDs need to get involved in the rest of the Murder and Crime Rates in "Killadelphia". They need to send "Teflon Ed" a "Target Letter" and investigate "The Rendell Murders".He's betrayed sacred public trust by shorting public safety to pay for his "No Bid" contracts and over $60 Million in "Inappropriate" Contracts(according to the State Auditor General, Jack Wagner) to his law firm, campaign contributors and "friends". We've Bled enough and Burried enough of our dead FOR YEARS to line his pockets. Ladies and Gentilmen...which is stronger...The Federal Criminal Justice System or Corrupted and Content Philadelphia? The President's Comment Line is 1-202-456-1111. The U.S. Attorney's Office in "Killadelphia"is 215-861-8200.State Parolees are responsible for our Murders and Crime Rates...Look at all news articles...like the PIAZZA MURDERS and Joe Frazier's Kin(the triggermen and Mastermind are State Parolees)! Shaw(Frankford Rapist),don't forget Burgess(Serial Killer & Rapist);Giddings, Cain, Warner(COP KILLERS); Wilson, Norman, Magee, Lassister, Hill, Trinsey, Wise, Latham, Bryant and the 4 out of the 5 gunmen who just recently murdered "Piggy" the mother of 4 children (All are Shoot-Out Artists and again STATE PAROLEEs).2,000 Inmates per month are being pushed back into our neighborhoods.State Parole Violators are NOT being sent back to prison for PAROLE VIOLATIONS. They are even being kept "on the street" when they are arrested and charged with NEW CRIMES!For every 1 State Parolee crime that makes the papers,over 100 don't. State Parole Board Chairman,Catherine McVey has repeatedly refused to provide State Auditors with requested information on Philadelphia PAROLE Agent Caseloads,which are over double that of other states and double the recommended Maximum…to hide her and her Boss’crimes (Civil Rights Violations,Involuntary Manslaughter,etc).The freguency of STATE PAROLEE MURDERS is increasing....Make some calls,the life and family you save may well be your own.— John Law
- How many months till he gets a nice size contract from the state from ed. i say 4.— brtsucks
- I agree with 9eyes; i.e., "things are about to get interesting." I suspect Ardo does not want to be around when it does.— Chantal
- Abandon ship.... the SS Fast Eddie is starting to sink!— CD75
- Don't hate on the man -- he's taking in his grandson, and it's not easy. When grandparents have to raise the grandchildren because their adult children can't, it's a terrible situation. I'm sure Ardo has someone in mind to replace himself at that level, not that Rendell even necessarily would require a spokesperson. Rendell does a proper job speaking for himself, possibly that is what is lacking in bringing the budget to a conclusion. When Rendell is wrong, he makes his case, gets bashed, and revises. It's like Rendell needs the public to proofread his draft. He was like that as mayor of Philly, and it was a good thing. Things are always more interesting when Rendell speaks for himself.— CleanupPhilly
- All those requests for information should be going straight to Rendell. He's always sharper and more adroit when he's getting just hammered in a way that would drive a normal person crazy. He'll be a better governor when he has a better sense that he's in it, thick.— CleanupPhilly
