Adrian Fenty, Anthony Foxx & Other Arrogant Black Mayors

This post is dedicated to all of America's Arrogant, Black Mayors.

Yes I'm well aware this is Black History Month and that I should be celebrating our nation's Black Leaders however....

Its kind of hard to do so when Black Leaders, especially Mayors are treating their own Black constituents (and Hispanic constituents) like crap!

So I've written a post dedicated to exposing a few Arrogant Black Mayors.

Perhaps the Commentary, informational articles & videos will cause them to reflect and change.

I'm targeting Mayors who were elected by the people but only serve an Elite few.

Mayors who embellished their Public Service records & Resumes to get elected.

Mayors who told blatant, outright LIES to get elected.

Mayors who sold out the Black and Hispanic Communities to get elected.

Mayors who encouraged or fooled thousands of Middle Class & Low Income citizens to vote Straight Ticket (Democrats) and than once in office "flipped the bird" on those same citizens.

Mayors who like Anthony Foxx of Charlotte, NC use their role in Public Office for Personal Gain in a Recession.

Mayors who basically don't do anything to uplift Urban or Minority Communities, including partnering with local schools for the purpose of ensuring that Minority Students receive an Equal, Quality Education. (Anthony Foxx, Adrian Fenty)

Mayors who high jack Federal and Public Funding for distribution to their cities' Wealthiest constituents, Fraternity and Sorority friends. (Bill Campbell, Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who raise property taxes at a whim to use as "Monopoly" money not to improve their regions but to waste or buy votes.

Mayors who only raise property taxes in Middle and Low Income communities, while refusing to raise property taxes for residents who reside in Wealthy, pre-dominantly White communities. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who use vote buying, 1.5 mile Streetcar schemes for White Citizens to ride uptown, as an excuse to raise property taxes ONLY in Minority communities. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who encourage their Council Members to increase term limits so they all can remain in public office forever, or almost forever.

Mayors who keep Middle Class & Low Income constituents poor so that they can't rise up and challenge them.

Mayors who during big snowstorms only send out City Snowplows to Wealthy communities while other residents have to fend for themselves. (Adrian Fenty)

Mayors who keep Homeless Shelters closed in Freezing temperatures (Anthony Foxx) claiming the city lacks funding, however later he hires friends to whom he pays high salaries.

Mayors who lie to Low Income, Black Senior citizens to get their votes and then cuts Funding for Public Transportation to Medical Clinics. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who slash funding for Mass Public Transportation thereby hindering many Low Income citizens from working.

Mayors who send City Buses that are well-maintained and clean into Wealthy White communities, while sending raggedy, broke down buses to Black/ Hispanic Communities.
Even though both White and Minority riders pay the same fares. (Anthony Foxx)

Mayors who use Donated Gifts for distribution to Poor citizens on themselves (Sheila Dixon & Bill Campbell) or their families and friends.

Mayors who cheat on their wives and try to bribe Police Officers (Kwame Kilpatrick).

Mayors who are cultivating an environment of Entitlement and Partisan, Political Corruption. (Adrian Fenty, Anthony Foxx, Bill Campbell, Kwame Kilpatrick and Sheila Dixon)

In fact evidence seems to suggest there is a distinct correlation between Black Political Leadership and Public Corruption.

Mayors who look down upon and talk down to Middle Class & Low Income citizens.

Mayors who govern with an "Us" vs "Them" mentality instead of a "We" mentality.

Its Mayors like Adrian Fenty, Anthony Foxx, Bill Campbell, Kwame Kilpatrick and Sheila Dixon that sort of pre-determine which members of American Society are "worth" serving, versus those who aren't.

Mayors who are setting a poor example for the next generation of Leaders, teaching them how to Misuse Power & Authority.

Mayors whose Arrogant behavior is destroying Public Trust in Black Leaders and Democrats.

Mayors who may only serve one term or at best two because Voters are tired of their Arrogance.

The only exception thus far is Mayor Corey Booker of Newark, NJ.

Corey Booker who although has an extremely impressive resume, proved he really cares about helping his city's less fortunate citizens and is truly dedicated to improving the lives of his city's youth through Education and Opportunity.

Instead of becoming jealous or "hating" on Corey Booker, I suggest Mayors like Adrian Fenty and Anthony Foxx adopt some of his governing practices.

To Voters I challenge you to get out there and change the Political Landscape like Scott Brown did!

You don't have to possess a degree from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell or Stanford to become Mayor.

You don't need Pres. Barack Obama's or Congressional Black Caucus members' endorsements to raise money.

If you have a good plan, have a pure heart for helping people and aren't afraid to articulate your views, YOU CAN win elections!

Check out the videos and articles below to learn why Arrogancy is a terrible trait for Public Servants to display, especially Mayors and why today's Black Mayors are giving Black Leadership a bad name.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(WARNING: Profanity near the end of this particular video.)




D.C. Mayor Says Federal Funds On The Way For Snowstorm Cleanup


The Federal Government will reimburse Washington authorities for snow cleanup in the wake of two massive snowstorms that recently hit the region, according to D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

The mayor said that city agencies have done the best possible job clearing snow from roadways and sidewalks, but that the federal government will kick in disaster relief funds in order to defray growing costs for local governments.

Asked on MSNBC if the city has done the best job possible, Fenty said, "There's no question," but admitted that "there's always things you could do better."

Fenty also said that he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Wednesday, who assured him that the federal government will reimburse the cost to the D.C. government, a move he called "a big help."

Many area residents have become frustrated with the D.C. city government as well as Virginia and Maryland authorities because they believe not enough has been done to clear roads, sidewalks and transit lines.

But Fenty said D.C. averages 15 inches of snow per winter, and does not have the capacity to handle the 65 inches that have fallen on the city this year. He did say that in the future, the city would seek to expand agreements with private contractors and keep snow removal equipment better maintained.

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) said Wednesday that federal disaster relief funds administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, are likely on the way for the region.

Over 30 inches of snow has fallen on the region since last Friday, essentially paralyzing the city. The federal government has been closed all week and the House of Representatives has called off its votes for the rest of the week.

The Senate voted Tuesday, but it is unlikely it will vote again this week.

Both the House and the Senate are expected to keep their Presidents Day recess next week, meaning they will not return for votes until the following week.












Chris Matthews: Fenty Handled Snow Poorly


MSNBC personality Chris Matthews said on "Hardball" Wednesday that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) has handled the city's snow removal poorly

He said Fenty, up for re-election this year, needs competition.

"I've watched the big cities where mayors lose their jobs over stuff like this," said Matthews, who lives in Chevy Chase, Md.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Metro Red Line Train Derails On Difficult Commuting Day


A Metrorail train derailed Friday morning near a frequently used stop in downtown Washington, but no injuries have been reported.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) acknowledged the accident and said that Metrorail officials and first responders are already on the scene to assist passengers off the train.

The derailment took place near the Farragut North station.

The incident happened on a day when D.C. area commuters have already experienced trouble traveling to work in the wake of two massive snowstorms that recently hit the area.

Snow has piled up on roadways, making it difficult to travel, and some Metro stations are still shuttered due to snow accumulation on track beds.

The front wheels of the lead car came off the tracks, according to WMATA. The incident took place at 10:13 a.m.

According to a reporter from The Hill, multiple ambulances and emergency vehicles are surrounding the stop.













Fenty responds to Hardball's Matthews

At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Fenty was asked to respond to criticism from MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews. To review, Mathews took aim at the mayor's handling of snow removal on "Hardball" on Wednesday and said Fenty needs some competition in his re-election bid this year.

With or without competition, Fenty said, "I will work around the clock to get reelected." The mayor noted that he's already started knocking on doors to make his case directly to voters.

"In all my campaigns," he said, "we've always started earlier and been the first to knock on doors."

And is he worried about the political implications of messing up the aftermath of such a big storm?

"I'm just focused on the operations of snow removal, not the politics of snow removal," Fenty said.











Snow plows clear the way for Fenty

What's the fastest way to get your street plowed after a massive storm?

Call a press conference with the mayor on your block.

At least that's what one Southeast resident, Rhonda Young, assumed when she saw a plow clearing 18th Street to the pavement just minutes before Mayor Adrian Fenty was scheduled to arrive for a photo opportunity with her neighbor.

"This is the clearest I've ever seen this street," said Young, an administrative assistant at D.C. Superior Court, who has lived on the street for nine years. "This is politics to the fullest."

Fenty, who is up for reelection, arrived at about 4:30 p.m. to help shovel the walkway of 76-year-old Vivian Freeman to highlight Serve D.C., a volunteer program that has been assisting seniors in the wake of the storm.

But the timing of the plowing appeared to be a coincidence. Daniel "Big Apple" Ellis, the plow operator on the street, said he had been out in the neighborhood since 7 a.m. The only reason he was still there by late afternoon, he said, was because "people are not letting us do our job. They're getting in the way."

Ellis said residents were dumping snow back into cleared streets as they tried to shovel out their cars and others were following his plow insisting that he also hit their streets.

"I didn't want to say, 'no,'" Ellis said, adding that he knew nothing of the mayor's plans.

Young still wasn't convinced. "These seniors need help all the time. Not just during campaign time," she said.

Before the mayor left, though, Young summoned her teenage son from inside to pose for a picture with the mayor.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Lending a Helping (and Self-Helping) Hand

D.C. Council members are taking advantage of this week's consecutive snowstorms to help out their neighbors - and score some political points in the process.

On Tuesday, during whiteout conditions, council member Harry Thomas (D-Ward 5) sent out a statement calling on Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) to request more federal resources. Thomas opened his news release by noting that he had spent all morning "assisting residents stuck in the snow."

Later in the afternoon, council member Kwame Brown (D-At Large) also went on snow patrol. Monica Bell of Hillcrest sent The Washington Post a letter Tuesday afternoon praising Brown, who has an all-terrain vehicle, for plowing out residents' sidewalks and driveways.

"I heard my dog barking and went to the front door to see what all the fuss was about when I saw a man digging snow from around my minivan." Bell wrote. "Once he finished with our van, he moved across the street to my neighbor's car and so on and so forth ... I was absolutely touched."

Not to be outdone, council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) took the whole plow-out-the-neighbor theme even further. Graham hopped into a city snowplow this afternoon to ride along as it traversed Adams Morgan, Mount Pleasant and Shaw.

"We have been all over," Graham said in a telephone interview from the plow.

By the end of the conversation, Graham sounded like any other snowplow driver.

"We're making progress, but part of the problem is people moving their cars and then they are getting stuck," said Graham, who chairs the committee that oversees the streets department. "Then we can't plow streets that need to be plowed."












Mayor Anthony Foxx's New Hire Draws Scrutiny


Among the nation’s largest cities with council-manager forms of government, Charlotte now joins those that have hired an assistant to help the mayor communicate with the media and the public.

The city of Charlotte recently hired Erica Johnson to assist Mayor Anthony Foxx as a communications assistant – a move that has drawn criticism from some fellow council members.

It’s the first time the mayor’s office has had such a job.

In Charlotte, the day-to-day operations of the city are handled by City Manager Curt Walton. The “weak-mayor” helps set overall policy, and is officially a part-time job.

Foxx said Johnson, who currently works a the Charlotte Chamber, will help him coordinate events such as setting up town hall meetings and an upcoming job creation summit. He said her job is “functional,” helping lay the ground work for him to better communicate with residents.

Foxx said Tuesday there will be times when the media communicates through Johnson instead of him. On Wednesday, he objected to the Observer saying in a story she would be a “spokesperson.”

“You won’t see any difference in access to me,” Foxx said Wednesday.

The mayors of Dallas and Phoenix, two of the largest cities with weak mayors, have a full-time communications person, or spokesperson, assigned to the mayor. Austin, which is about the same size as Charlotte, also has a communications person working directly with the mayor.

Las Vegas and Arlington, Texas, don’t have communications staffers assigned to their mayors. Neither does Raleigh.

Jennifer Roberts, chairwoman of the Mecklenburg County Commission, said she doesn’t have any staff members assigned to her office, though she does share the time of assistants.

The mayor’s office how has two administrative assistants and a policy assistant, Kevin Monroe, who replaced former Pat McCrory’s assistant, Dennis Marstall.

Johnson’s new position was created from a vacant position in the City Manager’s office, said city spokesperson Kim McMilllan. Some Republican council members questioned the new $70,000 a year job Tuesday, and were joined by some of Foxx’s fellow Democrats Wednesday.

“I hadn’t been aware (the job) was needed for the Mayor or members of council,” said Democrat Michael Barnes. “I was surprised to learn a person had been hired.”

Democrat Warren Turner said he thought the new hire was “bad timing” because of the recession.

The city’s early budget estimates for the upcoming fiscal year show a $9 million deficit. If the city gives a 3 percent raise to employees, that deficit could grow by another $10.3 million.

Foxx asked Walton for the new staff position.

During the mayoral campaign last fall, Foxx and Republican opponent John Lassiter differed on their visions for the office.

Lassiter said the mayoral job is part-time, which would have allowed him to continue running his legal staffing business. Foxx said the mayor’s job is a full-time position, and the city needed to recognize how much time it requires. He has said he doesn’t want to collect a salary based on a full-time job.











Its no secret last Fall Design Line Intl donated $4,000. to Foxx's Mayoral campaign fund.

Its also no secret that Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (Democrat) was hired by Design Line Intl. after his election.

(Design Line Intl manufactures buses for the City of Charlotte.)

Now Design Line Intl. is being sued.

Who will represent them?

Your right! Mayor Anthony Foxx!

Well....

Did you know Design Line Intl has connections to former corrupt Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon?

According to the Meck Deck Blog:

Sheila Dixon hiked taxes on city parking lots by 18 percent in order to provide "Free" bus service via buses from DesignLine International.

Seems there was a little deal which took place between Dixon and Design Line to the tune of $40M for "Green Bus" purchases.

Sounds innocent doesn't it?

Not when you read the details.

Hmmmm

Didn't Sheila Dixon (Democrat) recently accept a Plea Deal for her involvement in Public Corruption?

Isn't this interesting?

Let's see how far this investigation will take us.

I wonder if Anthony Foxx had anything to do with Sheila Dixon going down.

In Dixon's defense at least she did a little to help Baltimore's citizens, Foxx on the other hand is only about helping himself.

I wonder just how low will Anthony Foxx go to keep his job with Design Line and remain in the Mayor's seat?

You can be rest assured that where's there is smoke, there is fire.

Check out the videos and articles below.

Even though Foxx is an Attorney, Mayor of Charlotte, Design Line Intl makes buses for the City of Charlotte and Design Line Intl is being sued, watch Foxx (first video below) explain how his new job with Design Line Intl doesn't present a Conflict of Interest.

Move along, nothing to see here folks. Wink, Wink


 



Sheila Dixon Agrees to Step Down in Baltimore Theft Case


Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore, who was convicted of embezzlement last month, said Wednesday that she would resign from office in early February as part of a deal negotiated with prosecutors.

Under the agreement, Ms. Dixon will not seek a new trial or run for city or state office before her probation ends. She agreed to contribute $45,000 to charity and will also plead guilty to certain counts of an outstanding perjury indictment.

In return, Ms. Dixon will receive four years of unsupervised probation and keep her $84,000-a-year pension.

Ms. Dixon, 56, was convicted on Dec. 1 of misappropriating about $500 in gift cards donated to the city for needy families when she was City Council president. She became mayor in 2007 and will be succeeded by the current City Council president, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

“I believe that it is in the best interest of the city, my family and me to bring this matter to closure,” Ms. Dixon, a Democrat, said in a written statement.

Robert A. Rohrbaugh, the state prosecutor, said he was happy to bring the matter to a close. “It was time for this case to end,” Mr. Rohrbaugh said. “This city can move forward.”

The plea agreement came on the day Ms. Dixon’s lawyers were scheduled to argue that her conviction should be overturned because of jury misconduct and faulty instructions by the trial judge.

Ms. Dixon was expected to be sentenced Jan. 21 on the embezzlement conviction. On March 1, she was scheduled for a second trial relating to two perjury counts for failing to report gifts on city ethics forms.

As part of the deal signed Wednesday in the chambers of Judge Dennis Sweeney of Baltimore Circuit Court, Ms. Dixon entered what is known as an Alford plea in which she did not acknowledge guilt but admitted that there was enough evidence to convict her of perjury.

Ms. Dixon agreed not to accept any payments for legal fees from the city and not to be employed by the state or city during her unsupervised probation. Ms. Dixon will sell the fur coats and electronics she bought with gift cards intended for needy families. That money will be donated to Youth Works, a nonprofit organization for Baltimore teenagers. She agreed to do 500 hours of community service at Our Daily Bread.

The agreement brings to a close a case that has cast a shadow over the city since the corruption investigation began in 2006. The case divided the city, as some residents were outraged by the accusations that the mayor stole from needy families while others expressed frustration that the prosecutor’s office was wasting time and money on minor offenses.

Douglas Colbert, a professor at the University of Maryland Law School, said the deal was probably the best that each side could have hoped for.

“The prosecution wanted the mayor’s resignation and guilty pleas,” he said. “The defense avoided a criminal record, avoided jail time and maintains her probation.”

Because Ms. Dixon was sentenced under a provision of Maryland law known as probation before judgment, she will not have a criminal record after she completes probation, Mr. Colbert said.

Despite the distractions created by the long corruption scandal, Ms. Dixon was generally popular among residents and claimed some major accomplishments. In 2008, for example, the city hit a 20-year low in homicides. Ms. Dixon also put in place changes that increased recycling by 53 percent and saved the city $7 million annually.















Mayor Anthony Foxx and His Real Job


I see that the UPoR attempted to answer the question last week’s Charlotte Business Journal dispatch on Anthony Foxx’s new day job left hanging: Will Mayor Foxx lobby other big city Democratic mayors to buy buses from DesignLine?

Foxx says no. Further, Foxx, and evidently City Attorney Mac MCarley as well, believes that the mayor can work for DesignLine without conflict while both the city-owned airport and city-managed CATS decide whether or not to buy buses from DesignLine. OK. Given that I suppose it is likewise not a conflict for Mayor Foxx to work for DesignLine while DesignLine works out of a warehouse property owned by Childress Klein. Childress Klein only interfaces non-stop with city government on a host of development issues.

Other items of note:

* DesignLine CEO Brad Glosson gave Foxx’s campaign $4000 back in October, as did Glosson’s father, retired Air Force general Buster Glosson. Both men are registered Republicans and supporters of GOP candidates, including former Mayor Pat McCrory, according to state campaign records.

* DesignLine’s Baltimore effort has been repeatedly delayed with some questioning the value of spending $13m. to buy 21 hybrid buses, which will cost a total of $40m. to operate. The latest drop-dead date for DesignLine buses to start regular service in Charm City is January 11th, six months behind schedule.

* The company’s website is being re-worked, but the firm does not own the domain name — designlineusa.com — referenced in its own marketing material.

One thing is for certain, the days of Mayor Pat turning on the VCR for Duke Power’s new hires orientation program are long gone.

Update: SEC filings show that former Gov. Jim Martin is a director for DesignLine.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Sentenced To 4 Months


Calling him "arrogant and defiant," a Wayne County Circuit Judge on Tuesday sentenced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to four months in jail with no early release under the terms of a plea deal.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty last month to two felony obstruction of justice charges stemming from his efforts to cover up an extramarital affair. He also pleaded no contest to charges of assaulting a police officer attempting to serve a subpoena on a Kilpatrick friend in that case.

In imposing the sentence, Judge David Groner harshly criticized Kilpatrick for his conduct, particularly for a televised speech that aired hours after he entered his pleas.

"That night, the community expected to hear a message of humility, remorse and apology," Groner said. "Instead, we heard an arrogant and defiant man who accused the governor, among others, for his downfall."

While a presentencing report submitted to the court said Kilpatrick accepts responsibility for his actions, Groner said he questioned the former mayor's sincerity.

"Many defendants have stood before this court. However, this case is different, and you are not the typical defendant," the judge said. "... You were expected to lead from the front and set an example."

Kilpatrick was accused of blocking a criminal investigation into his office and firing a police deputy to cover up an affair with his then-chief of staff, Christine Beatty. When that deputy, Gary Brown, filed a whistle-blower suit last summer, Kilpatrick and Beatty denied under oath that an affair had taken place.

Groner noted that after a jury found in Brown's favor, Kilpatrick publicly vowed to appeal, only to do a "180-degree" turn after he found out the plaintiffs were in possession of text messages that gave evidence of the affair. Brown then urged the City Council to approve settlements, which cost the city $8.4 million -- closer to $9 million after legal costs.

In January, the Detroit Free Press revealed the text messages that contradicted Kilpatrick's and Beatty's testimony.

After the text messages were made public, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Kilpatrick and Beatty with multiple counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office. The most serious charges would have carried a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison upon conviction.

Beatty resigned her post after the text messages were made public, but the case against her remains pending, Worthy said. The Free Press reported Beatty has rejected several plea deal offers, the last of which would have required her to serve 150 days in jail.

Worthy told reporters after Kilpatrick's hearing that she was satisfied with the result, but could not comment extensively on Kilpatrick's case. "We have another defendant to try," she said. "I don't want to step over that line."

Kilpatrick must also pay the city of Detroit $1 million in restitution, Groner ordered, and forfeit any future pension.

He initially refused to resign, and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm had called a hearing on whether she should remove him from office at the request of the Detroit City Council. Granholm adjourned those hearings after Kilpatrick pleaded guilty and agreed to resign.

In the speech after he pleaded guilty September 4, Kilpatrick told reporters Granholm and city officials should work for the people of Detroit as hard as they did to get him out of office.

He told the crowd his marriage is better than ever, and kissed his wife to resounding applause when he concluded his remarks. He said he decided to step down so the city could move forward.

Groner also ordered Kilpatrick to sign an order of revocation regarding his law license. Because of a pending complaint against Kilpatrick, he could not surrender the license, but instead had to agree to revocation -- something his defense attorneys argued vehemently against. Groner told them the issue could be raised on appeal if necessary.

The judge did, however, deny prosecutors' request that Kilpatrick repay $22,000 in costs unique to prosecuting his case -- including the purchase of new door locks for their offices.

He also refused a prosecution request to order that Kilpatrick attend anger management counseling based on the July 24 incident involving the police officers, saying it was "an isolated incident" and he knows of no other evidence that Kilpatrick is violent or requires counseling.

Worthy said she was disappointed with that decision, but acknowledged, "It is unusual to ask for prosecutors' costs. ... A lot of judges aren't familiar with that."

On the law license, she said, "Frankly, I'm surprised we were even having that discussion," adding that defense attorneys, prosecutors and "everybody was clear that the license should be given up. He should not practice law."

Groner imposed the sentence at the end of a lengthy hearing featuring remarks from a phalanx of prosecutors and defense attorneys. The judge grew impatient with members of Kilpatrick's defense team, most of whom made extended remarks.

The hearing itself began more than a half hour late, as attorneys met to discuss terms of Kilpatrick's plea bargain, according to the Detroit News. And the imposition of the sentence was punctuated by two court recesses as attorneys wrangled over conditions.

During the hearing, Kilpatrick's defense attorneys pleaded with Groner to keep in mind the benefits he had brought to the city as mayor. But prosecutors read statements from both police officers involved in the incident, saying they had suffered lasting effects from it.










Bill Campbell: Atlanta's Former Mayor Sentenced To Prison


Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who presided over the city's economic renaissance of the 1990s, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison and fined more than $6,000 for tax evasion.

U.S. District Judge Richard Story praised Campbell, 53, for two decades of public service but said he could not ignore his crimes.

Campbell was convicted in March of three counts of tax evasion. He was cleared of charges that he lined his pockets with payoffs from a contractor but was found guilty of failing to pay taxes on what prosecutors said was illegally obtained money. Campbell said the money was gambling winnings. (Watch the prosecutor explain the crimes -- 3:19)

"Yes, Bill Campbell, you did good things, and there is a person in this room that recognizes this," Story said, referring to himself. He cited Campbell's work in improving public housing in Atlanta as an example.

But the judge added that during the trial he "was overcome, almost appalled, at the breadth of misconduct in your administration."

"I am going to send you to prison," Story told Campbell, who was mayor for eight years and served for 12 years on the City Council. Campbell must also settle with the Internal Revenue Service for $62,823 in taxes he failed to pay.

Story said the punishment was harsher than it might have been because Campbell had not been honest during a pre-sentencing investigation.

Campbell had denied getting documents -- tally sheets that reflected his gambling winnings -- from a prosecution witness before his trial. The witness said Tuesday that he gave Campbell the sheets.

Story also cited $45,000 in kickbacks he said Campbell received from a city contractor, even though the jury found that Campbell had not taken the money.

"Within my heart, I am not sure you have accepted responsibility for what happened," the judge said Tuesday.

Campbell, dressed in a dark suit and tie, his wife seated behind him, had no immediate response.

Later, he said he "disagrees vehemently" with the sentence. "This is not justice. We will appeal," he said. "We are very confident that we will prevail on appeal."

"I've never betrayed the public trust and the jury found that way," Campbell added. (Watch as Campbell reacts to the verdict outside the courthouse -- :56)

He described the sentence as "an attempt to undo the jury's verdict."

David Nahmias, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, disagreed. "We respect the jury's verdict." he said. "The jury found him guilty of three serious tax felonies."

He called the sentence "a fair result" and added, "I'll tell you today that his appeal will ultimately be denied."

The court found that Campbell intentionally failed to report more than $160,000 in income on three tax returns, Nahmias said.

Campbell will be assigned a date by the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence unless the judge grants him a bond pending appeal. Typically, people involved in white-collar crimes serve their sentence at low-security prisons.




View Larger Map


Sources: MSNBC, CBS Online, The Hill, NJ.com, The Grio, Fox News, McClatchy Newspapers, Charlotte Observer, Baltimore Sun, TIME, WCNC, CNN, Meck Deck Blog, John Locke Foundation, Youtube, Google Maps