Corruption Isn’t Limited to Maryland … and Illinois

December 18, 2008 by Cato  
Filed under Corruption, Virginia, Virginia Politics

Those of us in the not-so-Free State always lament the epidemic corruption and conflict-of-interest within our own state and local politics.  As a native Marylander who grew up in Virginia I always got a kick when friends would crow about the “clean”, “beyond reproach” politics of the Old Dominion.  They would get a tad perturbed when I would point out examples such as the local legislator, then Circuit Court judge who ran a string of illegal gambling dens.  Or the city mayor who was the bag man for the same legislator come judge. Bearing Drift presents just the latest example.

Former Virginia House Speaker Tom Moss is now the Norfolk City Treasurer.  Moss, who enjoyed a reputation as a tough, mean SOB while in the House has browbeat the Norfolk City Council into giving him large, multiple pay raises:

Moss, who ran as an independent in 2005, but has suddenly come into the good graces of the Democratic party, has hired the vice mayor to be a deputy in the treasurer’s office. This after Moss strong-armed the council to increase his pay by $25K in 2005…which has now been increased by $40K by 2009. Whew…talk about a pretty pension! And, since another constitutional officer got wind of this plan, it has now been implemented for all six constitutional officers.

In an attempt to cement future pay raises (or perhaps just a payoff for the ones already received), Moss has now hired Norfolk’s Vice Mayor as a Deputy Treasurer.  Nothing like having the person who helps set your salary work FOR YOU!

Cronyism and corruption isn’t limited to places like Baltimore or Chicago.  It’s alive and well in places like Norfolk.