Mayors gone bad

Neal Boortz is bound to be laughing outloud with the news that "Federal prosecutors unveiled a seven-count indictment against former two-term Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell Monday." Most stories, however, don't reveal the last little item in the story. "Ten people who formerly worked for him have been convicted on corruption charges, including some members of Campbell's staff, including top aides..." Whole list.

Hard to find the description, DEMOCRAT Bill Campbell either. Let a Swift Boat Veteran get a speeding ticket, it would be front page. If he had been a Republican, it would be an issue for eight weeks. But Campbell isn't the only mayor in trouble. New Jersey has trouble big time.

Over the last three years, federal prosecutors have pursued 55 major political corruption cases in New Jersey and indicted or convicted the mayors of Irvington, Paterson and Asbury Park, as well as former Essex County Executive James Treffinger.

Earlier this year, the mayor and a top aide from Hainesport (pop. 4,100) went to prison for stealing $339,000 from the tiny town. A former Hudson County executive, Robert Janiszewski, pleaded guilty in 2002 to taking more than $100,000 in bribes from public contractors.

Next month, Anthony Russo, a former mayor of Hoboken, is scheduled to face trial on bribery and extortion charges.

Rhode Island has had bad luck as well with their beloved Province mayor. Not nearly so much as the media loved him. Did I forget to say they are all Democrat mayors?