NJ Mayor (R-of course) indicted for bribing his opponent to drop out of race

[LynneSin]

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061121/NEWS/61121009

S. Jersey mayor indicted for corruption
Home News Tribune Online 11/21/06
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON: The mayor of a southern New Jersey town was indicted today, charged with public corruption for offering government jobs to his political opponent in exchange for the man pulling out of a local election.

Carneys Point Mayor John M. Lake was charged with two counts of bribery and one count of official misconduct, state officials announced this afternoon. The opponent didn't exit November's town council election, and Lake lost the race for the board's one open seat.

Lake's attorney, Jeffrey Zucker, said he was informed that Lake, a Republican, would be indicted but declined to comment on the charges when reached earlier in the day because he had not yet seen the indictment.

Lake's Democratic opponent for town council, Anthony Rullo, told The Associated Press he was surprised when Lake showed up at his home July 4 and began offering him municipal jobs. Rullo said the caveat was that he had to drop out of the race by a certain deadline that would prevent another candidate from being
placed on the ballot.

Rullo said Lake first offered to reappoint him to the sewerage authority a five-year appointment that pays $1,500 a year if Rullo agreed to back out.

He said Lake later upped the ante, offering Rullo a part-time job at the authority that pays an estimated $10,000 to $12,000 a year. When that didn't work, Lake then offered him a job as a housing inspector for up to $15,000 a year, Rullo said

Is there any low that Republicans won't stoop to?

[marmar]

1. They clearly believe the law applies to everyone but them.

"I am corrupt, therefore I am Republican" ought to be their motto.

[Kolesar]

2. Ohio State Rep Matt Dolan, R got his opponent a job as a concession for him to quit the primary race

[Kber]

3. It's gotta make you wonder - what exactly are the "perks"

of being Mayor of a small NJ town anyway?