With California’s recent string of infamous Public CEOs (see Filner and Carrillo), it is easy for residents of the Golden State to forget that political malfeasance is not bound by state lines.
Recently, three separate mayors of cities in the Miami area have found themselves embroiled in corruption scandals. The scandals have attracted the attention of The New York Times and prompted the publication to analyze Florida’s unsightly record of corrupt elected leaders. Based on their findings, it would seem that the Sunshine State could use a little more sunlight in the affairs of its public officials.
The first case comes from Homestead, FL where Mayor Steven C. Bateman was arrested on Wednesday, August 28 on charges of accepting under-the-table contributions from a health care company who was looking to build a clinic in the city.
Earlier this month, both Sweetwater Mayor and Florida League of Cities President Manuel L. Moroño and the Miami Lake Mayor Michael A. Pizzi were wrapped up in a bribery scheme surrounding federal grants. Combined, the two local leaders received almost $50,000.
The Times reports that Florida is the number one state in the country for arrests of public officials. According to Department of Justice figures, 781 public officials were convicted between 2000 and 2010.
The report further profiles several infamous cases of Floridian public misconduct throughout the years. Read the full story at The New York Times.