Feldman defeats Fedullo for Vice Chancellor

December, 2003

Alan Feldman has defeated Rochelle Fedullo in a Philadelphia Bar Association vice chancellor’s race in which the first real use of the mail-in ballot system failed to deliver an anticipated boost in voter turnout. Feldman, who will succeed to the bar’s top spot in 2006, received 2,259 votes to Fedullo’s 1,475.

Over the course of the race, Feldman was able to not only secure the support of large organizations like the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, but also create the appearance of widespread backing with the publication of letters of recommendation signed by long lists of previous bar chancellors and present large-firm leaders. Up against a former co-chairwoman of the bar’s women in the profession committee, Feldman also circulated a letter of support signed by the only three women to have led the bar association.

Feldman took an early lead in the contest to secure endorsements, with - - in addition to the groups and individuals mentioned above - - nods from the Tau Epsilon Rho Law Society (the Jewish professional association), the Brehon Law Society (the Irish-American professional association) and Blank Rome (typically the only large firm to publicly endorse a candidate).

But Fedullo, well-known for her networking skills, responded in kind, gaining the support of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel and the Young Lawyers Division of the bar. Additionally, she received key endorsements from major ethnic and minority interest professional organizations, including the African-American Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Inc., the Italian-American Justinian Society, and Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia.

Going into the final weeks before the election, the candidates appeared neck-and-neck - - at least on paper. But both seemed to be considering the possibility that the major votes in this election would come from sleeper members of the bar whom the ease of mail-in balloting would induce to vote. As sources close to the race noted throughout the election, the two candidates spent much time and energy on campaigning in the potentially voter-rich halls of the city’s largest firms.

While this year’s tally of 3,734 voters did represent an increase in comparison to recent years’ tallies (last year, for example, 2,924 voted in the vice chancellor race), it appears that the mail-in system did not, as several past chancellors of the bar had hoped, push turnout over the 4,000 mark. The highest turnout in recent years came in 1989, when Deborah Willig defeated Steven Arbittier in an election that saw 4,285 total votes.

However, according to bar spokesman Dan Cirucci, the mail-in ballot was popular with this election’s voters: 3,118 members voted for vice chancellor by mail. The mail-in and live voter counts for the respective candidates reflected the overall outcome - - Feldman received 1,916 mail-in ballots and 343 live votes, while Fedullo got 1,202 by mail and 273 in person.

A Philadelphia native, Feldman is a founder of Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter & Tanner and specializes in complex personal injury and other civil litigation. He served as treasurer of the bar from 1993 to 1995 and as president of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association from 1995 to 1996.