Bad news for Erie Dems...

[hopein08]

The Democratic mayor of Erie (Rick Filippi) was charged today with three felonies and four or five other different misdemeanors by the PA Attorney General who's office got help from the FBI. Here's the link to an early story that doesn't list the actual charges (I'll add that later) but it gives the background...

"State filing charges against Erie mayor, two others"

ERIE, Pa. - Erie Mayor Rick Filippi and two business partners were being charged by a state grand jury with benefiting from the purchase of four properties near a former industrial site in the city, state prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Filippi had been under scrutiny for his involvement in negotiations to acquire the former International Paper Co. site in Erie and in land deals around the site involving his associates.

Charges also will be filed against attorneys Rolf Patberg, Filippi's law partner, and Eric Purchase, Filippi's longtime friend and former campaign manager, who also were involved in the deals, Attorney General Jerry Pappert said.

Filippi, mayor of the state's fourth largest city since 2001, was leading negotiations on behalf of the city with MTR Gaming Group Inc., the developer of a proposed $80 million horse racing and casino complex. At the same time, four neighboring properties were snapped up by Aiko Acquisition LLC....

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-12082004-413452.html

:mad::mad::mad:

By the way, I hope I followed guidelines for how to post this message since it's my first thread and article post. If not, please accept my apologies and let me know what to do differently.

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. NW PA Democrats had a lot of hope for Filippi a few years ago

He could have been County Executive or maybe even taken out Phil English. But he had to throw it all away.

[corporatemedia]

2. sad ,,,,,,,,

but always glad to get rid of crooked politicians, repugs of dems.

and by the way, you did just fine with the posting "guidelines"

welcome to the posting world!

[catbert836]

3. I live in Erie county, and

I feel sorry for his family, but not really for him. He deserved it, and he's not worthy of the Democratic Party. Should have known better.

[hopein08]

4. I agree with all of you...

First, thanks to corporatemedia for welcoming me to the thread-posting world. I was very glad I got it right. And I agree that we have to get the crooked politicians out regardless of party. It just doesn't look good for Erie.

Regarding Freddie Stubbs statement about the hope for Filippi and the chance that he could have taken out English, I hadn't even thought of that! But I can't believe how hard it has been for him to get along with the Democratic controlled city council so that might have been a bit shaky.

And catbert836, I agree that I feel bad for his family. I saw his oldest son at the John Edwards rally in Erie and I just keep thinking about him and how Filippi's wife just had a baby a few months ago. By the way, I live in Wesleyville. What part of Erie County do you live in?

[catbert836]

5. Yeah, I was at the Edwards rally too.

And I live in the most Republican part of the county, Fairview.