Former Traffic Court judge takes post with SEPTA

Francis E. Kelly, a former Republican legislative aide and former president judge of Philadelphia Traffic Court, has been named SEPTA's assistant general manager of government and public affairs.

As a $150,000-a-year lobbyist for SEPTA, Kelly will "play a major role in developing partnerships with our stakeholders in Harrisburg, Washington and the five-county Philadelphia area," SEPTA general manager Joseph Casey said yesterday in a statement.

Kelly replaces Juan Torres, who has been moved to the position of assistant general manager of business services. For the last three years, Kelly has been a senior vice president at Egan Bloom Associates, a lobbying and consulting firm headed by former Republican mayoral candidate John J. Egan Jr.

From 2001 to 2005, Kelly was president judge of Traffic Court, where he had served as a judge. He is a former chief of staff to State Rep. John J. Taylor (R., Phila.).

- Paul Nussbaum