The mayor of Baltimore has been indicted on theft and perjury charges and will be arraigned the first week of February 2009. Mayor Shelia Dixon was elected mayor in 2007 and served on the city council since 1987. Dixon has earned accolades for efficient management and there was a historic drop in homicides during her tenure as mayor.
Many believe that the state prosecutor has made the mayor his personal obsession to dig up dirt for the past four years. “There wasn’t a bedsheet that he failed to look under or a lead that he found too trivial for him to pursue personally,” said her attorney Arnold Weiner.
A grand jury indicted mayor Dixon on 12 counts, including four counts of perjury, two counts of theft over $500, theft under $500, and misconduct in office. The prosecutor’s office said that Dixon received gift cards for four years, and they were intended for needy citizens. It has not been substantiated, but there was nothing too trivial for this mayor to use for her personal benefit.
Shelia Dixon is charged with five counts under $500 and buying items that ranged from a PlayStation, clothes, camcorder, and other electronics. She is an extremely intelligent mayor, and there will always be a misunderstanding on why she would allow herself too get mixed up in such a minor aberration. She will probably spend some time in jail if she is convicted.
This mayor had reached the pinnacle of success and power, but her indiscretions with gift cards will destroy a brilliant career. Many of our African American politicians forget that they have a responsibility to serve their constituency. Many of these politicians abuse the system, and they make excellent salaries with lucrative expense accounts.
The mayor of Newark last year was sentenced to 27 months in prison after being found guilty of fraud. Some call him a renaissance mayor and he presided over one of the largest building booms in the city’s history. Others say he was a vindictive mayor who enriched himself at the expense of one of the poorest cities in the country.
Sharpe James the ex-mayor of Newark was unbeaten in 12 consecutive elections. Once he was elected to power, he ruled with an iron fist and his supporters also became successful and wealthy. Some of the members in his administration are also serving time in jail.
All around the country African American politicians are becoming rich after being elected to office from a majority black constituency. As these politicians amass wealth and business connections, the heart and core of their districts continue to deteriorate. Once these politicians are elected to office, they continue to be re-elected with limited accountability.
It appears that after two or three elections, these politicians are forgetting who put them in office. They expect to be re-elected to office with limited accountability and even less communication. The idea that a mayor would use a gift card for their own personal use, as opposed for the citizen who needed the card is ridiculous.
Sharpe James was caught taking trips and helping his ex-girlfriend make hundred of thousands of dollars by directing real estate deals her way, as a result of his position. African American politicians are now in a position to direct billions of dollars to their friends, and some consider this good politics. Sometimes the abuses are blatant and other times it a thin line between wrong and right.
The initial purpose of all African American politicians is to serve the people. As they continue to be successful their initial purpose is altered and their purpose becomes to increase their sphere of influence. Once their sphere of influence increases, their bank accounts also continue to improve.
As their bank account improves greed replaces the ethical and humanitarian mission to serve. Once greed becomes the dominate motive for running for a position in government, the mission to serve is no longer the priority. The fundamentals for the politician have changed and the rules can be altered to keep the money rolling into their bank accounts.
Greed will never be completely controlled, but accountability and transparency with advocacy groups can make a difference in a community. If the president can only remain in office for 2 terms, then why can a senator remain in office for 6 terms and a congress person remain in office for 12 terms?
As African Americans make their representatives more responsive to their needs, it will engage the entire political process. Our politicians have a responsibility and duty to improve their communities with effective representation.
Based on their performance and a community scorecard will determine if African American politicians are given the responsibility and honor to be re-elected to office. Across the board there should be term stipulations for every political office or position to eliminate inertia and apathy.
Effective representation can improve our communities.
By: Rodger Caldwell
