Saturday, December 22, 2012
Associated Press
COLUMBUS
Four-term Dayton Democrat Clayton Luckie’s refusal to resign his seat in the Ohio House while awaiting trial on 49 counts of theft, corruption and money laundering stirred the ire of Republicans.
But Luckie wasn’t the only state lawmaker who’s had a run-in with authorities during this two-year General Assembly, one of the most misbehaving broods in recent years. Some resign, some don’t.
Former Democratic Rep. W. Carlton Weddington resigned and surrendered to authorities in March after being indicted on charges of bribery, election falsification and filing a false financial disclosure statement. He’s now serving three years in prison.
Authorities involved in the ongoing federal investigation said Weddington took trips and cash in exchange for taking steps to introduce legislation. He is believed to be the first state lawmaker in a century convicted of bribery.
Luckie’s subsequent indictment made the session historic, said Ohio Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe. The Legislature’s chief watchdog said it’s rare to have one lawmaker indicted in a session, let alone two.
Robert Mecklenborg, a Republican from Green Township, didn’t tell House Speaker William Batchelder about an out-of-state drunken driving arrest — and the odd circumstances that surrounded it — his days at the Statehouse were numbered.
Arrest records showed Mecklenborg failed field sobriety tests and tested above the legal blood-alcohol limit. Mecklenborg resigned under pressure from the party in August 2011.
Two other Republican lawmakers who had brushes with law enforcement this session defended themselves against calls for resignation.