A bequest clears race for Donatucci

In old-school city politics, no currency is more valued than the patronage job. No one knows that better than Register of Wills Ronald R. Donatucci.

So how many jobs did it take to persuade pesky ward leader John P. Sabatina Sr. not to run against him?

The answer is two.

Donatucci is a fixture in the Democratic political establishment from South Philadelphia, and Sabatina has been the formidable leader of the 56th Ward in the Northeast since 1980.

Sabatina, whose son, John Jr., is a state representative, saw an opportunity in the register-of-wills race, with Donatucci embroiled in the controversy over the city's Deferred Retirement Option Plan.

Donatucci is among the city officials who have joined DROP. He plans to exploit a legal loophole that would allow him to return to office, if reelected, despite a commitment to retire.

Furor over DROP appears to have played a role in the decisions of Council President Anna C. Verna and Council members Frank DiCicco and Donna Reed Miller to retire rather than have the controversy tarnish their legacies.

Donatucci is nervous by nature. But DROP has him a little frantic. He is still promising to make the city whole in some way for his $370,000 DROP payment, but he hasn't quite figured it out yet.

And there was Sabatina threatening a challenge. Donatucci had a weekend meeting with Sabatina before the deadline for candidates to file. In a thoughtful analysis of the Register of Wills Office, Sabatina detected "a little lightness in the area of the Northeast" among its 65 employees, Donatucci said.

"He felt that his area was underrepresented in my office," Donatucci said.

He added that he was open to hiring residents from any part of the city, "as long as they are qualified."

(Sabatina did not return two calls seeking comment Friday.)

Under withering interrogation by "Heard in the Hall," Donatucci confessed that the price had been two jobs for candidates that Sabatina would send his way; that is, Donatucci would try to "find room" in his office. Asked whether those would come through unfilled positions or newly opened spots, he shrugged.

Now Donatucci, who appeared to have three other Democratic opponents as of March 8, has none because those candidate were disqualified or withdrew.
- Jeff Shields