By FITSNews || City of Columbia (S.C.) Councilman E.W. Cromartie has always been a corrupt “poverty pimp.” As of Monday, he’s also an admitted tax cheat who is facing 366 days in a federal prison.
Under these circumstances, you’d think that Cromartie’s resignation from City Council – which is required in his snitch … err plea agreement – would be a foregone conclusion.
Amazingly, though, Cromartie reportedly has one last scam up his sleeve – and it involves the timing of his resignation. Cromartie’s federal case has yet to be assigned a judge, which means it could take weeks for the terms of his plea agreement to be “effected.”
That gives the disgraced councilman leverage over the timing of his departure, which (surprise, surprise) he is allegedly milking for all that it’s worth.
Specifically, sources tell FITS that Cromartie is refusing to resign his seat immediately unless the special election to fill his post is held on April 6 – the same day as the Capital City’s mayoral race. In fact, Cromartie is reportedly meeting with his old friend, Mayor Bob Coble, in an effort to cement this latest “corrupt bargain.”
Why April 6?
Well, turnout in Cromartie’s predominantly African-American district is expected to be through the roof that day, as one of the city’s top three mayoral candidates – Steve Benjamin – is African-American. That means the cabal that has turned Columbia into the “Face of the Recession” has an excellent opportunity to keep this seat in its incompetent hands.
Seriously, can this town get any more corrupt? “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman would be blushing, people …
In addition to Cromartie’s scandal, just last fall City Councilwoman Tameika Isaac-Devine was busted last year taking taxpayer-funded loans to upgrade her law firm’s headquarters – a move which she had the gall to defend.
Frankly, it’s a damn shame that these glorified thieves couldn’t have been booted from city council long before they cast two of the deciding votes (along with a lame duck mayor) for a $154 million bailout of the failed University of South Carolina.
Oh well, Columbia businesses and private property owners are going to be paying for that scam soon enough …
By beetrave March 9, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Wow, I would not put it past Cro-Mar or Demos like Benjamin who are totally in hock to Usury Unlimited Corp to pull something like this.
QUESTION: Why do we have city elections in April? It seems like a great way to tamp down on voter turnout by keeping only those who are super-motivated from voting. Why not do it on that fabled Tuesday in November?
By Uncle Walter March 9, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Don’t throw Tameika in with E-Dub. The loan her mother got to renovate her property (where her daughter’s firm was a tenant) was perfectly legal. Now Rickenmann, on the other hand…
By Todd March 9, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Doesn’t the City of Columbia have a legal department?