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Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon’s indictment by a grand jury for theft, perjury, and misconduct adds her to a long list of big-city mayors who have run into legal trouble in recent years during their time at the helm. Apparently the mayors want to give the governors a run for their money.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon A brief trip through accusations of and convictions for mayoral misconduct:

December 2008: Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Larry Langford and two associates indicted on 101 counts, including bribery.

September 2008: Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick sentenced to 120 days in jail after pleading guilty to perjury charges.

April 2008: former Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Sharpe James convicted on federal fraud and conspiracy charges.

July 2005: interim San Diego Mayor Michael Zucchet convicted of conspiracy, extortion and fraud after taking payoffs from a strip-club owner — on his first day as acting mayor.

March 2003: Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayor Joseph P. Ganim convicted of racketeering, extortion, bribery, and mail fraud.

June 2002: Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci convicted of racketeering conspiracy.


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