America's scummiest mayor?

[Palo Verde]

Baltimore's mayor resigned today. Resigned as in left before they threw her out.

"Dixon, 56, was convicted last month of misappropriating about $500 in gift cards donated to the city for distribution to needy families during her time as City Council president"

That's right... she stole money meant for poor people. SHe's also been convicted of perjury and fraudulent appropriation by a fiduciary. She was facing another trial next month regarding "perjury charges stemming from accusations she did not report gifts from Ronald H. Lipscomb, a developer with whom she had a brief romance. "

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6063844.shtml

America's scummiest mayor? Or is there someone even worse?

[picker]

I used to live across the street from her. She was very unfriendly and un-neighborly.

[Erdosain]

That's pretty bad but there are plenty of corrupt mayors out there.

Hartford's mayor, Eddie Perez, was arrested twice in 2009, on two unrelated corruption charges, and there hasn't even been talk of him resigning. I'm not sure what he could do to actually get kicked out of office. Hit a pedestrian with a car, maybe.

[Lightnin']

Having recently moved to the area, I've been kinda sorta following this story.

While, yes, it's despicable that she stole the gift cards (or misplaced them, or whatever), what really bugs me is that this case has been going on for something like two years. We're talking a theft of a grand total of about six hundred bucks- an amount which has been grossly eclipsed by the money, effort, and publicity spent trying to prosecute her for the theft.

I just wish the state had gone to her and said, "Look, we're pretty sure you stole the cards. Can you save us all the trouble and just pay it back, even if you didn't take it? This is chump change."

Hell, for all I know, they did, and she turned 'em down. It's a crummy situation all around.

[Machine Elf]

It's hard to compete with Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick. Apart from personal use of city funds, he fired a couple of police officers who were investigating his conduct. The officers filed a wrongful termination lawsuit and were awarded several million dollars. During the trial he denied, under oath, having an affair with his chief of staff. The Detroit Free Press uncovered a slew of text messages (and a related secret confidentiality agreement that came out of the trial) that solidly confirmed an affair was taking place. Kilpatrick was charged with perjury, and several times prior to and during the trial he violated the travel restrictions in his bail agreement. He was ultimately convicted of obstruction of justice, removed from office, served four months in jail, and lost his law license.

He has been under court order to pay restitution to the city for all the trouble he's caused. Last fall under oath he claimed not to have as much money as the city thinks he has, after which evidence promptly surfaced showing that, um, yeah, he's got plenty of money:

Originally Posted by Detroit Free Press

-- Despite the claim of Kilpatrick's lawyer in March that Kilpatrick had only $6 left from his $10,000 monthly salary after he paid his expenses, prosecutors showed that Kilpatrick has been living and spending lavishly -- producing evidence that he spent $158 at a nail salon; $15,000 on elective plastic surgery for his wife, Carlita; $800 on Omaha Steaks, and $595 at a Gucci store, among other expenditures.

Scummiest mayor? Top that, America!

[JuliaSqueezer]

Kwame Kilpatrick (son of US Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kirkpatrick) is indeed the scummiest of the scummy mayors. Or ex-mayors.

Unfortunately, after spending an acceptable probationary period in suburban Dallas, he will undoubtedly move back to Detroit, where the good citizens will grant forgiveness, he will again portray himself as victim, and he will be re-elected.

There. Now I will return my crystal ball to the closet. It has spoken.

[Shirley Ujest]

Originally Posted by JuliaSqueezer

Kwame Kilpatrick (son of US Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kirkpatrick) is indeed the scummiest of the scummy mayors. Or ex-mayors.

Unfortunately, after spending an acceptable probationary period in suburban Dallas, he will undoubtedly move back to Detroit, where the good citizens will grant forgiveness, he will again portray himself as victim, and he will be re-elected.

There. Now I will return my crystal ball to the closet. It has spoken.

C'mon , it's a given he will be mayor again. And bring more shame upon the pile of doo doo that is Detroit politics.

[Munch]

The former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska was pretty scummy.

[joebuck20]

Isn't that the woman Nerese Campbell on "The Wire" as based on?
If so, what would you expect from someone in cahoots with Clay "Sheeeeiiiiiiittt" Davis?

[Mr. Excellent]

Originally Posted by Shirley Ujest

C'mon , it's a given he will be mayor again. And bring more shame upon the pile of doo doo that is Detroit politics.

Come on - how could he manage that? Sure, people knowingly elect corrupt politicians from time to time - but that's only when they're otherwise effective, competent people. Buddy Cianci, of Providence, would be a good case in point - notoriously corrupt, violent, a genuinely unpleasant person. But he turned Providence's economy around even whilst skimming like mad - and if he ran for office tomorrow, he'd probably win, because he *delivered*. Killpatrick didn't.

[msmith537]

I like to think that Peter Cammarano (Hoboken, NJ) could have been a contender if he wasn't arrested by the FBI in a money laundering sting a month after taking office.

[Mama Zappa]

Originally Posted by Mr. Excellent

Come on - how could he manage that? Sure, people knowingly elect corrupt politicians from time to time - but that's only when they're otherwise effective, competent people. Buddy Cianci, of Providence, would be a good case in point - notoriously corrupt, violent, a genuinely unpleasant person. But he turned Providence's economy around even whilst skimming like mad - and if he ran for office tomorrow, he'd probably win, because he *delivered*. Killpatrick didn't.

Two words:

Marion.

Barry.

DC's former mayor. Took care of all the little people, ran the city into the ground, got arrested (and did jail time) for doing crack cocaine, and got re-elected after he got out of jail.

Anyone who dissed the man was considered a racist for daring to speak against Saint Marion.

As a city councilman, he routinely ignores the law too (at least in his personal life... tax returns are for chumps anyway, right?).

Sorry, Bawlmer, your now-ex mayor's got nothin on Uncle Marion.

[Agent Foxtrot]

Originally Posted by Mr. Excellent

Come on - how could he manage that? Sure, people knowingly elect corrupt politicians from time to time - but that's only when they're otherwise effective, competent people. Buddy Cianci, of Providence, would be a good case in point - notoriously corrupt, violent, a genuinely unpleasant person. But he turned Providence's economy around even whilst skimming like mad - and if he ran for office tomorrow, he'd probably win, because he *delivered*. Killpatrick didn't.

Detroit residents don't care if he delivers. They see him as one of them.

[zweisamkeit]

Originally Posted by Mr. Excellent

Come on - how could he manage that? Sure, people knowingly elect corrupt politicians from time to time - but that's only when they're otherwise effective, competent people. Buddy Cianci, of Providence, would be a good case in point - notoriously corrupt, violent, a genuinely unpleasant person. But he turned Providence's economy around even whilst skimming like mad - and if he ran for office tomorrow, he'd probably win, because he *delivered*. Killpatrick didn't.

There have been many many many many people in Detroit who have said (and still say) that they'd vote for him again. It's very depressing.

[Elendil's Heir]

Barry and Kilpatrick were pretty bad, it's true. And this violent, corrupt ex-mayor of Providence, R.I. has a fair chance of being returned to office for a third stint in 2012: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Cianci,_Jr

[Elendil's Heir]

Sorry, I overlooked Mr. Excellent's post.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by Munch

The former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska was pretty scummy.

Not while she was mayor. An asshole, maybe, but not a felon.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Originally Posted by zweisamkeit

There have been many many many many people in Detroit who have said (and still say) that they'd vote for him again. It's very depressing.

I don't think he'd win, but it'd be closer than a lot of folks like.

[Countrypolitan]

The FBI's not done with EX-mayor, "I'm out, I'm back in, I'm out again" Willie Herenton of Memphis. Can't wait til the FBI is done in that dirty litterbox.

[3waygeek]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

Not while she was mayor. An asshole, maybe, but not a felon.

The jury may be out on that one -- there have been some questions raised about the lavish house she had built there. IIRC, it was built by the same people who built a new civic or sports center for the town, and it's been suggested that the house may have been a quid pro quo to get the municipal contract, or that the builders may have given Palin a break on the costs.

However, as far as I know, there are no official investigations on this as yet -- just a couple of newpaper & blog stories.

[Mr. Excellent]

Originally Posted by Elendil's Heir

Sorry, I overlooked Mr. Excellent's post.

No worries

[Elendil's Heir]

Frank Hague, the 30-year mayor of Jersey City, N.J., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_hague, and James Curley of Boston, Mass., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Michael_Curley, were real pieces of work (and Curley was the inspiration for the political novel The Last Hurrah).

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by joebuck20

Isn't that the woman Nerese Campbell on "The Wire" as based on?
If so, what would you expect from someone in cahoots with Clay "Sheeeeiiiiiiittt" Davis?

Yes.

And I can't shake that connection. Probably unfair to Ms. Dixon, but I believe that The Wire was not exaggerating much, if at all.

[Ogre]

Birmingham, Alabama's (thankfully ex-) mayor, Larry Langford, has to be in the hunt.

On April 30, 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Langford in federal court.[21] The lawsuit alleges Langford accepted more than $156,000 in cash and benefits from Montgomery banker Bill Blount in exchange for county bond business.

On the morning of December 1, 2008, Larry Langford was arrested by the FBI on a 101 count indictment[22] alleging conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns[23] in connection with a long-running bribery scheme.

Convicted on 60 counts.

[Carl Corey]

All good candidates, but in my opinion nothing beats Philip Giordano, the ex-mayor of Waterbury, CT.

From Wikipedia:

While investigating municipal corruption, the FBI discovered phone records and pictures of Giordano with a prostitute, as well as with her 10-year-old niece and her eight-year-old daughter. He was arrested on July 26, 2001, and, in March 2003, was convicted of 14 counts of using an interstate device, his cell phone, to arrange sexual contact with children. He was also convicted of violating the girls' civil rights. He was sentenced to 37 years in prison. In July 2007 his motion to reduce this sentence was denied by a federal judge.

That's scummy.

[ralph124c]

Originally Posted by Elendil's Heir

Frank Hague, the 30-year mayor of Jersey City, N.J., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_hague, and James Curley of Boston, Mass., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Michael_Curley, were real pieces of work (and Curley was the inspiration for the political novel The Last Hurrah).

Boston mayor Thomas Menino is embroiled in anew scandal-one of his party hacks is under indictment (for selling drugs in City Hall). Menino was just reelected to a fifth term.
Corruption continues!

[elbows]

Jerry Springer, for the win, Alex.

Jerry not only did several highly questionable things, he eventually lost his office over cavorting with prostitutes.

How'd they catch him? It seems he was paying by cheque. That's right, frequenting prostitutes, while mayor, and paying by cheque.

(I don't even want to think about what kind of prostitute takes a cheque!)

[salinqmind]

I can't resist, I must share with you the sordid story of former Oswego, NY mayor John Gosek. It involves cash given to a crack whore in exchange for her arranging to place two 15 year old girls at a motel for his honor to bang. Only there were no girls, just a setup, a sting.blog.syracuse.com/indepth/2009/05/the_woman_who_brought_down_osw.html We're rather proud of the ex-mayor in a perverse way, for running with the big dogs! (in prior years, Mayor Lee Alexander of Syracuse, NY went to jail for for financial shenanigans, but that wasn't so much scummy as business as usual until caught.)

[Kyla]

Originally Posted by elbows

(I don't even want to think about what kind of prostitute takes a cheque!)

They knew he'd be good for it. He was the MAYOR, after all.

[Elendil's Heir]

And lest we forget: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_Quimby