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Then, the next, “KA-THUMP” came rolling at me like a
rumbling bowling ball and I was the nine pin in its way.
That “KA-THUMP” was the name of Attorney Keith Mitchell
who was out of town at the time of the initial arrests but
returned when he learned about his fellow council members
being arrested and that this was not a cruel prank.
Atty. Mitchell reported to the authorities and was
exonerated by Judge Helmick who accepted his rationale for a
delay in his returning to Toledo… and no, he was not, as
scurrilously reported, “on the lam.”
Imagine, a fourth of city council being wiped out by a
forty-one-page indictment and all at one time! Yowsa! Yowsa!
So, let go down the list of what this means, or does
not mean; and what are some possible outcomes of this
political travesty that has sat its large rear end on the
City of Toledo like a large rear ended bird settling in on
its nest of hatchlings.
ONE: Toss out the miscreants! This is an easy one to
put out on blast.
Even though all the accused have the sacred right of being
presumed innocent until found guilty, violated or enraged
citizens want immediate action against any public servant
who is even remotely accused of such wretched wrongdoing
while serving the public trust and feeding at the public
trough.
Unless and until these council members voluntarily
resign, they, according to the city charter, can remain
place in and fulfill their councilmanic duties until
otherwise removed by law or decree.
Will they suffer the ire and evil eye of their fellow
council members? Sure.
Because those who were not accused are probably wondering:
Were there any other past votes that these accused members
voted on that were tainted by money improperly changing
hands?
TWO: Let them serve until the cases are finalized and
a legal judgement rendered. That is good and proper because
they are given the benefit of the doubt and who knows, maybe
the feds brought a bum case that may have some serious
defects which could produce a judgement or result that no
one could initially anticipated. The law can be that way:
Quirky and nonsensical and full of surprises.
THREE: Scramble to find replacements for each accused
council person for their respective districts; and start to
both groom and fund that potential council candidate to take
over at a moment’s notice. Note: if a special election is
required upon their removal, I doubt the city will spend the
time and funds to do so but rather wait until the fall
elections and have those affected slots placed on the
ballot.
FOUR: Do nothing. Simply weep and bemoan this set of
presented allegations and let each charged council member
wrestle with their own conscience and make their own
decision (before the Fall election) as to whether or not and
for the good of council, they stay or leave.
If you read the allegations and if you assessed the
monies that exchanged hands with the confidential sources,
you must ask yourself: To taint and besmirch your name,
reputation, standing in the community, your now shamed
family members, your law schools, and your goodwill for a
“few” dollars…was it worth it? Really? And why?
What is not good and what can be expected based upon
prior federal indictments and convictions of similar charges
in Toledo (i.e. Bob McCloskey’s conviction in which he
served 20 months in the slammer for bribe taking as a
council member) is that if a plea deal is reached or an
adverse jury verdict is reached, each person, so convicted,
will be packing a toothbrush and going off to a federal pen.
Is it a sad day for Toledo? Sure. Such charges are not
lightweight and any such proven conduct (again, it has got
to be proven!) is a gaping wound for the local political
scene and especially for the now greatly embarrassed
Democrats.
This is the type of case that if the matter proceeds to
a trial, you wish the presiding judge will allow TV cameras
in the court room since it involves the welfare of the
public.
My take on all of this? Simple: “Oh, how the mighty
have fallen!”
Contact Lafe Tolliver at tolliver@juno.com
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