Big City Mayors In Jail

[cawacko]

Random question but I am curious about the answer. Last week when we were discussing Marion Berry going to jail Cypress said that many big city mayors have gone to jail. I'm not saying there haven't been any I just couldn't think of any others off the top of my head.

I guess I'm being lazy by asking the question here instead of researching it. Does anyone know of any others? I would assume by big city we talking about a city with at least 200k - 300k people.

 

[Cypress]

Obviously the Marion Berry thing is still bugging you


Without even using google, I can name at least four public officials as big, or bigger than Marion Barry that went to prison:

I think the former mayor of atlanta went to prison.

The mayor of Spokane was caught seducing young boys.

The republican Governors of both Illinios and Ohio went to prison.


Cons are still snickering about marion barry a quarter of a century later.


Cawacko, what are the odds you'll even remember the names of the governors of Ohio, Illinois, and the mayor of Spokane a quarter century from now?

 

[cawacko]

Obviously the Marion Berry thing is still bugging you


Without even using google, I can name at least four public officials as big, or bigger than Marion Barry that went to prison:

I think the former mayor of atlanta went to prison.

The mayor of Spokane was caught seducing young boys.

The republican Governors of both Illinios and Ohio went to prison.


Cons are still snickering about marion barry a quarter of a century later.


Cawacko, what are the odds you'll even remember the names of the governors of Ohio, Illinois, and the mayor of Spokane a quarter century from now?

Berry's not bothering me. I'm not snickering nor do I really care. What did bother me was that I couldn't think of any other Mayor's from big cities going to jail.

Berry got caught on video smoking crack. A video is going to obviously last far longer and be able to be replayed forever.

 

[Damocles]

Obviously the Marion Berry thing is still bugging you


Without even using google, I can name at least four public officials as big, or bigger than Marion Barry that went to prison:

I think the former mayor of atlanta went to prison.

The mayor of Spokane was caught seducing young boys.

The republican Governors of both Illinios and Ohio went to prison.


Cons are still snickering about marion barry a quarter of a century later.


Cawacko, what are the odds you'll even remember the names of the governors of Ohio, Illinois, and the mayor of Spokane a quarter century from now?

Let's work with the one big difference that made Marion a story with legs. He was voted back in to office. How many of the others were?

 

[Cypress]

Let's work with the one big difference that made Marion a story with legs. He was voted back in to office. How many of the others were?

Well, first, he wasn't voted back in as mayor. He won a city council seat, years after leaving the mayor's office. Years, in which Cons snickered at fond memories of Barry being arrested and convicted. Yet, while cherishing these memories for years, these same cons couldn't tell you the names of two republican governors, from two major States, who went to prison last year.

Second, what did Barry do? Smoked some cocaine. You rightwingers really do need to get lives . Is sex and drugs all you have to judge a person on? Praise the Lord! I guess Barry's crime wasn't considered that egregious, by some washingtonians. Not a "crime" you'd still hold against someone years and years later.

Barry was still popular with some of them. Its a democracy Damo. Was his crime so egregious, that he couldn't be forgiven? I'm mean, doing cocaine is not exactly the crime of the century

 

[Cancel7]

Well, first, he wasn't voted back in as mayor. He won a city council seat, years after leaving the mayor's office. Years, in which Cons snickered at fond memories of Barry being arrested and convicted. Yet, while cherishing these memories for years, these same cons couldn't tell you the names of two republican governors, from two major States, who went to prison last year.

Second, what did Barry do? Smoked some cocaine. You rightwingers really do need to get lives . Is sex and drugs all you have to judge a person on? Praise the Lord! I guess Barry's crime wasn't considered that egregious, by some washingtonians. Not a "crime" you'd still hold against someone years and years later.

Barry was still popular with some of them. Its a democracy Damo. Was his crime so egregious, that he couldn't be forgiven? I'm mean, doing cocaine is not exactly the crime of the century

Yeah, unless you're in the oval office and still snorting it.

I mean, he's snorting something, I can tell you that.

 

[cawacko]

Well, first, he wasn't voted back in as mayor. He won a city council seat, years after leaving the mayor's office. Years, in which Cons snickered at fond memories of Barry being arrested and convicted. Yet, while cherishing these memories for years, these same cons couldn't tell you the names of two republican governors, from two major States, who went to prison last year.

Second, what did Barry do? Smoked some cocaine. You rightwingers really do need to get lives . Is sex and drugs all you have to judge a person on? Praise the Lord! I guess Barry's crime wasn't considered that egregious, by some washingtonians. Not a "crime" you'd still hold against someone years and years later.

Barry was still popular with some of them. Its a democracy Damo. Was his crime so egregious, that he couldn't be forgiven? I'm mean, doing cocaine is not exactly the crime of the century

Actually the Governor from Ohio did not go to prison. And do you ever watch black comedians or listen to black folk speak? It's not just "white evangelical christian conservatives" that make Marion Berry comments. Chris Rock has done skits making fun of Berry has have other less well known black comedians. Antedotially (sp) I've heard black folk in conversations make fun of Berry and I'm going to assume others have as well. And I've never heard it in the context of Conservative vs. Liberal.

 

[Cypress]

Well, you're right about one thing Wacko.

Having it on video - him smoking crack - was titillating to the masses. I mean, that is pretty funny.

 

[Damocles]

Well, first, he wasn't voted back in as mayor. He won a city council seat, years after leaving the mayor's office. Years, in which Cons snickered at fond memories of Barry being arrested and convicted. Yet, while cherishing these memories for years, these same cons couldn't tell you the names of two republican governors, from two major States, who went to prison last year.

Second, what did Barry do? Smoked some cocaine. You rightwingers really do need to get lives . Is sex and drugs all you have to judge a person on? Praise the Lord! I guess Barry's crime wasn't considered that egregious, by some washingtonians. Not a "crime" you'd still hold against someone years and years later.

Barry was still popular with some of them. Its a democracy Damo. Was his crime so egregious, that he couldn't be forgiven? I'm mean, doing cocaine is not exactly the crime of the century

It was, however, what gave the story legs. That and the video.

 

[LadyT]

It was, however, what gave the story legs. That and the video.

The video & He was voted back into office.

I find it interesting that his admin was caught with crack when she hit those people in DC. I wonder if we'll hear more about that story. I've convinced myself that he's still involved somehow in drugs.

 

[Thorn]

I think I was still in DC when Marion Barry was arrested and convicted on that cocaine charge (probably 16 years ago). It was a sting operation and the authorities had to be extremely careful to avoid the charge being thrown out for entrapment.

A large proportion of the poopulation in the city at the time were reported to be outraged at his arrest, many voiced disappointment in his behavior despite his drug use apparently being relatively common knowledge. He had garnered considerable support from the people because of his lengthy history of civil rights activism and support in the area, and people still revered him for that.

He wasn't re-elected to the mayor's position, but now serves on the city Council.