Political corruption: the misuse of public or governmental power for illegitimate, usually secret, private advantage. Most common are patronage, bribery, extortion, influence peddling, fraud, embezzlement, and nepotism.

Pete McGowan, Islip Town Supervisor – in Suffolk County — and Long Island Republican powerhouse pleaded guilty last week to charges of misuse of tens of thousands of dollars of campaign funds for personal use and taking kickbacks from a campaign vendor.

McGowan resigned as Supervisor. As part of a plea deal, he will have to make personal restitution of the misappropriated campaign funds and return more than $1 million in campaign funds presently on hand; he also faces jail time.

Another political giant has fallen to the lure of money.

TOO CLOSE TO HOME
I was in the office of our The Long Islander group, our new Huntington newspaper venture – founded by Walt Whitman in 1837— checking out last week’s Trib with Long Island Associated Publisher Peter Sloggatt.

He and I smiled at the clever front page mini-headline written by Trib Managing Editor Brian Rafferty about the FBI raids on the offices of NYC Central Labor Council President, Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin – “F.B. Eyed.
A good headline is to us like a fine meal is to a gourmet – we relish every moment of the experience.

However, as we enjoyed the wordsmithing, I bemoaned the fact that Brian, a friend for many years, is in the middle of a bid-rigging scandal and things don’t look very good for him. The F.B.I. has apparently been on him for quite some time, and raided his Central Labor and Assembly office carting off boxes of material. History indicates that the next chapter is usually indictment.

Justice should and must run its course, but I wish my friend Brian peace and a speedy resolution to what must be one of the worst moments of his life.

And as I sat there talking about political scandal with Peter referring to McGowan and a string of Long Island pols gone bad, he paused in the scandal competition, and recognized I was affected by the fact that a friend faced jail time.

“You don’t understand,” I responded. “I’m from Queens, I have lots of political friends who have faced jail time.”
Perhaps, my line of the moment, was a bit of an exaggeration, but it rang true to me. Political power corrupts. And yes Socrates, the more absolute that power is, the more it corrupts. Absolutely!

Donald Manes is our Queens poster boy of good public official gone bad. His suicide touched many of us in and around the City government circles. But it is Donald’s story being retold in Pete McGowan’s resignation, in the raid on Brian McLaughlin’s offices, in the political contributions going into the coffers of elected officials from the City, to Albany, to Washington.

The commentary is sad. The list of names is very, very long. And the distinction between gray area and crossing a line that is indictable is very blurry.

The longer one holds office, the greater the power, the greater the ability to deliver on big contracts, the more likely the availability of funds – be them campaign contributions, gifts, bribes or kickbacks.

Often, the only thing that distinguishes legal graft from illegal graft is often a very thin imperceptible line. And the attraction of big money too often draws elected officials very close to the edge.

Campaign finance reform, lobbying reform and much greater government transparency is needed to reduce temptation and remind us all what public service is all about.

THE SCANDAL LIST
Ten fiancial political scandals that come to mind:
Jack Abramoff- The king of lobbyists turned Washington upside down by admiting to criminal acts which include wire fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe various public officials (1/06).

“Duke” Cunningham- A former war hero resigned from the House after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion including $2.4 million in bribes in several schemes including one involving a yacht formerly owned by convicted Queens businessman Thomas Kontogianis. Forfeited millions and up to 10 years in jail (11/05).

Tom DeLay- Former Republican House of Representatives Majority Leader was indicted in a scheme of laundering corporate contributions for use in political campaigns (09/05).

Bernie Kerik- Former NYPD Chief nominated by Presdient Bush as Director of Homeland Security withdrew his acceptance, explaining that he had employed an illegal immigrant; subsequently, numerous allegations of extramarital affairs and conflicts of interest surfaced (12/04).

Bob Torrecelli- New Jersey Senator who served a single term and decided not to run for re-election after being implicated in a bribery and campaign finance scandal (10/02).

James Traficant- Was expelled from Congress after being convicted of taking bribes, filing false tax returns, racketeering, and forcing his aides to perform chores at his farm -- sentenced to 8 years in prison (4/02).

Dan Rostenkowski: Charges included keeping “ghost” employees on his payroll, using Congressional funds to buy gifts for friends, and trading in officially purchased stamps for cash at the House post office ended in a plea bargain to reduced charges of mail fraud. He was fined and was sentenced to 17 months in prison (04/96).

Mario Biaggi- The most decorated police officer in the country who became a Bronx Congressman for 20 years, resigned, after federal convictions for corruption in the Wedtech scandal (08/88).

Donald Manes- The former Queens Borough President committed suicide after being implicated in a kickback scandal involving the NYC Parking Violations Bureau and collection agencies. Other New York City financial political scandals came to light at the same time in a period chronicaled in a book title “City For Sale” (3/86).

Spiro Agnew- Nixon’s Vice President became only the second US VP to resign. As part of a plea bargain, he pled nolo contendere (no contest) to a criminal charge of tax evasion, for accepting bribes during his tenure as governor of Maryland. He was fined $10,000 and put on three years’ probation and disbarred by the State of Maryland (10/73).

ON REFORM
There were others — many, many others — some with fewer reverberations; some with less political significance. But big or small, they stand as a reminder to one of the biggest challenges facing politics and government today – the corruption of public servants by the lure of money.

The problem is in Washington, the problem is in Albany and the problem is in New York City. The problem is everywhere public officials and money come into contact.

Where are the leading candidates on the issue of lobbying and campaign finance reform? As we enter the Statewide race for Governor and AG, see where the candidates come in on this most important issue.

Stay tuned!

Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.