We already knew that Council rookies Bill Green, Curtis Jones Jr. and Maria Quinones Sanchez had formed a mutual admiration society over their many months together on the campaign trail, coming in together as fresh faces who went through a grueling and unique orientation process over the past eight months.
It didn't take long for that alliance to show itself. Thursday morning we reported that Jones chose Green as his "community leader" to be on the city's Zoning Code Commission. Thursday afternoon we found out that Green admired Sanchez enough to hire her husband, Tomas Sanchez, as his "Senior adviser."
Not that Tomas Sanchez doesn't come with his own resume. Educated at Harvard and UPenn Law School, Tomas Sanchez (pictured above with Maria Quinones and Sanchez and their children) is head of procurement and business relations for Temple University's Office of Multicultural Affairs. He is also a former chief of staff for Councilman Juan Ramos.
Whoa! Green said Friday. Green says he hired Sanchez in spite of his marriage to Quinones Sanchez, not because of it, because "I thought I might get a little flak over it."
But, he said: "Tomas was the most qualified person who applied to my office for any position."
NOTE: The original entry identified Tomas Sanchez as a lawyer. He graduated law school but is not a practicing lawyer.
Comments (8)
I thought Sanchez was against nepotism. Sanchez and Green are fakes. Are they for reform or for their self-interest? It is evident that they are trying to hide nepotism. They are doing exactly what they criticized others for doing.
Posted by Luis | January 26, 2008 4:21 PM
Posted on January 26, 2008 16:21
Typical Philly Political BS and we the tax payers of Philly pay for it. Maria and Billy G are proving to be exactly the things they said they would fight against. Unbelievable.....
Posted by Anonymous | January 27, 2008 6:43 PM
Posted on January 27, 2008 18:43
I voted for Bill Green because I believed in him. What a disappointment! He is just like the people he criticized.
Posted by Anonymous | January 27, 2008 7:10 PM
Posted on January 27, 2008 19:10
Typical Philly Politics again. There was no "change" candidate. Gimme Juan Ramos and David Oh anyday.
Posted by Anonymous | January 27, 2008 8:01 PM
Posted on January 27, 2008 20:01
This is such a joke. I thought Maria was against nepotism. I guess the “real” Maria is being exposed. She campaigned against nepotism in city hall when she ran for office. What happened? Now that she’s elected, I guess she changed her mind since it’s "her" family member. Where are the progressives? I’d like to know why Maria and Green are getting a pass (especially from YPP). They blasted others for such nepotism in the past. I just don’t get the logic.
Posted by Anna | January 28, 2008 1:03 PM
Posted on January 28, 2008 13:03
Green said, " Tomas was the most qualified person who applied to my office for any position." Green's statement doesn't say much for intelligence or his staff. Tomas can't even pass the bar!
Posted by Anonymous | February 3, 2008 2:07 PM
Posted on February 3, 2008 14:07
This is a disgrace!
Posted by Anonymous | February 8, 2008 2:08 PM
Posted on February 8, 2008 14:08
This is not the image Bill Green presented during his campaign. I thought he was for good government. Nepotism is surely not good government. Green should have never hired a fellow Councilperson's husband.
Posted by Brad | February 8, 2008 11:08 PM
Posted on February 8, 2008 23:08