Former Atlanta mayor indicted on racketeering, wire fraud

[Freddie Stubbs]

ATLANTA – Former Mayor Bill Campbell was indicted on charges of racketeering, bribery and wire fraud following a five-year federal investigation into City Hall corruption, officials announced Monday.

Campbell, who was mayor from 1994 to 2002, was accused of taking cash payments in exchange for city contracts and accepting illegal campaign contributions.

The indictment unsealed Monday accused him of "a pattern and practice of misconduct and illegal acts."

Ten other people involved with the former mayor's administration have been convicted of corruption. Some were members of Campbell's staff; others had business contracts with the city.

more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20040830-0817-ex-mayorindicted.html

[napi21]

1. GREAT!!! I don't live in Atlanta, but I do live in Ga. This idiot was

an embarrrassment to our State! He was so smug and arrogant, he didn't believe he would EVER be indicted, and I'm sure still thinks he'll get off. I moved to Ga. in 2000, and I still can't believe all the criminal activity that goes on here. I sure hope this clown spends a long time in prison so he has time to readjust his arrogant ego.

[0007]

6. Crooks like him and Ken Lay and Neil Bush never go to prison.

What party did he belong too?

[MGKrebs]

7. He's Dem.

[hlthe2b]

2. this has been brewing for a very long time...

Assuming there is truth behind it (as certainly "seemed" to be the case, short of a trial), I just find it so sad that such a prominent African American leader would forfeit his reputation and potential to be an important voice for the future...

[Eloriel]

26. Your comment reminds me of this --

A minority group has "arrived" only when it has the right to produce some fools and scoundrels without the entire group paying for it. -- Carl Rowan


NOT that I'm defending him in any way. I was reallly, realllly relieved when he didn't get a Washington appointment (as was rumored) under Bill Clinton.

[Must_B_Free]

3. "Brown Bag lunch" meetings

In other words, "leave the money in a brown bag outside of my door, and you'll get the contract"

[lottie244]

4. This happens quite frequently when blacks in positions of power

lose their identities and try to emulate the majority culture. No black in a position of power should try this shit. The system is out to get them anyway and they should know, besides honesty is the best policy, they will be watched much more closely than anyone else.

Case in point: My uncle had a home built in Gainesville, GA during a time when there was money available to low income families. He used a black contractor (small business firm). The construction was monitored so closely that the black contractor hardly made a profit. The materials were heavily scruitinized. One inspector made him take the roof off and do it over again (for no apparent reason) as well as one side of the house. Consequetly, my uncle had the best built home in the area. When the hurricane came through so much damage was done to many of the properties Gainesville and nearby Atlanta that many people's homes were flooded, roofs were torn up, including the home of the white inspector who forced so many re-dos on my uncle's home. My uncle's home was not damaged at all, the superior workmanship and materials really paid off for him.

[Tomee450]

11. I agree

"This happens quite frequently when blacks in positions of power"

It does indeed. I was recently reading about the late Mayor of Detroit,Coleman Young. It seems he was watched for years. Mike Espy, the agriculture secretary under Clinton was also prosecuted but found not guilty. Black public officials will be prosecuted for actions others would never be prosecuted for. A black public official must watch his step for sadly, there are people just lying in wait for him to make a mistake. At this point, I cannot see how people can be so certain of his guilt. I will reserve judgment until all the facts come out.

Unfortunately, there are some black people who attain high status and great fortune who seem to forget that they are still black and cannot get away with doing what whites of equal status do. I hope this is not the case with Campbell. I hope he is not guilty.

[Syrinx]

13. um, I don't think anyone should "try this shit"

[Tomee450]

16. Well, history

has shown that many have shared your view as they celebrated the lynching of thousands of blacks across the south. They also did not believe in trial but had that "lynch that shit mentality." It is unfortunate that so little has changed in this country as far as the attitude towards blacks is concerned. Blacks continue to be considered as shit, and not worth of equal justice.

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. This happens with all races when they get into power

Pennsylvania has a long history of corrupt politicians going to jail, and most of them have been white. Miami is another area where a lot of corrupt politicians have been prosecuted, but most of these guys have been hispanic.

[MGKrebs]

5. Up until this moment, I have thought he was innocent.

And I will still give him the benefit of the doubt (but there is some doubt).

This is so similar to the Clinton deal. They have been investigating this guy, his family, his friends, his business associates, ever since he took office.

Perhaps he is arrogant, and that is why the papers have had it our for him since the beginning. But I thought he did a good job for Atlanta. He tried to fix the sewers and the city council didn't let him do more than half-measures.

I think they have been investigating for 6 years now. After 3 or 4 years, one begins to wonder if they are going to be able to make a case or not.

[The Icon Painter]

8. He's a Disgrace

I have lived in Atlanta since 1963 and Bill Campbell is the sorriest excuse for a mayor I have ever seen. He was the reason we are still blushing for all that went wrong during our Olympics. This dreadful man saw the opportunity to reward all his crooked buddies during that event and sold the city out. I hope they put him away for a long, long time. I used to live about four doors from him in Inman Park and the only good thing he ever did was to provide 24/7 police protection to the neighborhood.

[Shadder]

9. Yeah, but just think

In a few more years he may get the airport remamed for him....

[The Icon Painter]

21. Airport

Only if his wife is as good a lobbyist as Valerie Jackson.

[Tomee450]

10. How do you know all of this?

He has only been accused. Are we now at the place in this country when a person who is accused is automatically guilty? Many people have been falsely accused. May I remind you of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton who for years were accused of all kinds of wrong doing. After using millions of dollars to investigate them, nothing was found to support the accusations. May I also remind you that another black man, Mike Espy, former Secretary of Agriculture, was tried for a crime and later exonerated. It is a sad fact that there are some in this country who do not want to see blacks in high office and thus those blacks who do achieve such office are watched closely. Labor secretary Alexis Herman was also accused of wrongdoing in office.

I am not saying Campbell is innocent;I am adopting a wait and see attitude. It just appears that too many people are willing to believe that a black person accused of a crime must be guilty of that crime. There have been many people, blacks as well as whites, who have served time for crimes they did not commit.

[The Icon Painter]

12. No Racist I

I am a member of the generation which marched and demonstrated for civil rights. I have personally torn signs from the hands of Klansmen pickets integrating restaurants in downtown Atlanta and been cattle prodded by laughing Neanderthals in Tallahassee, Florida. I don't care if Campbell is polka dotted and plaid, he was a lousy mayor who did nothing for the city that did not result in a direct pay-off into his pocket. Our current mayor, Shirley Franklin, is a black woman who is governing with honour and grace. She is a wonderful human being and we are damned lucky to have her after the disasters of her predecessor.

[Tomee450]

15. I would think that

if you did all those things, you would be the kind of person who is aware that black people are often accused of crimes for which they were later found not to have committed. The Central Park jogger case and that of Mike Espy, former agriculture secretary, come to mind. Every other month it seems that black men are being released from prison after having served long sentences for crimes they never committed. Their release was obtained through the work of the Innocence Project. I would think that you would be willing to wait for trial with evidence presented before judging him guilty. There are many ineffective politicians. Being ineffective does not equate to criminality. Neither of us is privy to all of the details of the case yet you have already decided he is guilty because you do not like him. That is most unfortunate,imo.

[Boredtodeath]

17. He's guilty

His buddies who paid him off with those brown bag lunches have already been tried and convicted. They are all rolling over on him for lighter sentences.

[MGKrebs]

18. So if he gets exonerated, will you claim

some miscarriage of justice? Is he guilty to you no matter what at this point?

[Boredtodeath]

19. Of course I will admit I was wrong.

But, given the evidence, I don't see how that's possible. The evidence against him is overwhelming.

Have you read any of the articles about this today? They have multiple witnesses prepared to testify against him.

[Tomee450]

22. what evidence?

So now we try people in the newspapers? We now do away with trials? I thought it was up to a jury presented with evidence in a trial that determines if one is guilty. Even under those circumstances black people have been sent to jail only later to be discovered to be not guilty.

[The Icon Painter]

20. You are sensible

I am aware of all the injustices you recite, having lived to witness many such. However, I did live in this city during the term of Bill Campbell and I do know what I witnessed then. Let us not argue about who is the more tolerant. I shall, of course, wait for the trial but I do assure you that there are many of us here in Atlanta who are relieved and gladdened to see the crimes of this man exposed and who will be content to watch justice be served.

[Tomee450]

23. Trial by newspaper

or hearsay does not do it for me. I think people can and do lie. I know that individuals wanting lighter sentences for themselves will implicate people who are entirely innocent. If one is not privy to the details of this case, he cannot know whether the accusations are true. We have trials so that evidence can be presented, wittnesses cross examined. Calling the accused guilty before he has been tried is simply wrong,imo.

[The Icon Painter]

24. My Goodness

You are surely wedded to your own opinion, are you not? Oh well, we shall see how it all plays out. I have simply done Bill Campbell the honour of thinking and talking about him without considering his colour. I would and have been equally harsh on misbehaving politicians of any hue. But have it your way - I'm not interested in trying to change you in any manner.

[Tomee450]

25. I am

wedded to the idea that all people should be treated fairly. I am wedded to the idea that people are innocent until they have been tried in a court of law and found guilty. It appears that some people believe that persons of color are guilty until proven innocent and imo, that is most unfortunate. I would feel just as strongly if Mr. Campbell was white. There have been instances when poor whites were accused of crimes they did not commit. Remember Richard Jewell? He was tried and convicted in the media.

We can agree to disagree.

[MGKrebs]

29. Campbell may or may not be guilty of this,

and maybe some other things too, but I have a hard time laying much of the blame for the Olympics at his doorstep.

Who was in charge of the IBM timing fiasco?
Who was in charge of the lodging for the press?
Who was in charge of transportation issues?
Who's fault was the pipe bomb?

Doies Billy Payne, Andrew Young, and yes, Shirley Franklin, bear none of the blame for those issues?

The one thing that I think Campbell must live with is the cheesy, commercialized vendor area. I think that was his gig, and I think he did hire some crony to run it. But there was NEVER any doubt that those Games were going to be commercial. They were in LA too. That is the way we do it in the US apparently. There was no way we were going to raise a billion in taxes, and to get Coca Cola and McDonalds, and IBM, and whoever else, to pony up the money, required giving them a little bit of marketing leeway.

I was partly embarrased by those games too. But not because of Bill Campbell. It was just the crass commercialism run rampant.

The city council, led by Campbells political rival Marvin Arrington, fought him every step of the way, including blocking his attempts to get the sewer system fixed, which of course, is now even more expensive to fix.

[napi21]

14. This is the part that's gonna get him.

The following is from an article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Lots of things are hard to prove in court, but of all the exerpts listed there, this charge is very easy to prove. Damn bribery will get 'em every time!

(snip)
"In 1997, the Computer Contractor was a member of the defendant's re-election campaign finance committee. The Computer Contractor hosted a fundraiser for defendant at his company's offices in October 1997, and he contributed to defendant's campaign for re-election ...

"Approximately six months after defendant was re-elected as Mayor, in or about May 1998, the City's Commissioner of Administrative Services awarded the Computer Contractor's company a contract, without competitive bidding, which was worth over $1,000,000 ...

"In or about 1999, the Computer Contractor's company pursued obtaining, without competitive bidding, another contract with the City to provide services to prepare the City's computer system for Year 2000 ("Y2K Contract"). In or about March 1999, the City's Commissioner of Administrative Services terminated the contract of a company providing Y2K services to the City and selected the Computer Contractor's company as a replacement. ...

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/08/30/daily7.html?f=et50

[colonel odis]

28. i'm amazed by the naivete displayed here by people

who still think a black man in office is automatically a target.

bill campbell is one of a long line of black mayors atlanta has had. some good, some awful. just like a string of white mayors would be.

unfortunately, bill campbell's crookedness will invite closer scrutiny of black politicians everywhere and give bigots someone to point a finger at. i lived in atlanta during the first couple years of his administration and thought he was a dirtball. not as big a dirtball as maynard jackson, his predecessor. but a dirtball, nonetheless.

maynard's predecessor, andrew young -- now HE was a mayor.