Indicted PA state senator defeated

[Freddie Stubbs]

Democratic challenger Art Haywood beat indicted Senator Leanna Washington.

Haywood took 40% of the vote, followed by Washington at 34% and other Democratic challenger Brian Gralnick 27%. They took 15,874, 13,440 and 10,590 votes respectively.

Senator Leanna Washington was indicted on one count of theft of services and one count of violation of the conflict of interest statute. She allegedly bullied her state-paid staff into planning an annual birthday bash for the Senator that took up $30,000 – $100,000 worth of taxpayer time.

She maintains her innocence.

more: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/morning_roundup/2014/05/indicted-pa-state-senator-defeated.html

[Divernan]

1. Winner Art Heywood will make a great Senator

From his bio when he was running for county commissioner:

I am a graduate of Morehouse College, Phi Beta Kappa; the London School of Economics and Political Science as a Marshall Scholar and the University of Michigan Law School as an Earl Warren Scholar. I believe it is essential for the Commissioners to work in collaboration with School Directors to ensure that the Cheltenham schools attain the highest standards of academic excellence.

As to Washington,

She maintains her innocence, but the report from the Attorney General’s office tells a different story. Most notably from that report, Washington’s chief of staff recalls her saying, “I am the f—— senator, I do what the f— I want, how I want, and ain’t nobody going to change me.”

“The evidence will show that Senator Washington pressured her staff into performing political activities using taxpayer dollars for her own personal benefit,” said Attorney General Kane.

If convicted of all counts, Washington faces a maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $25,000

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*We originally called this race for Washington with 96% of Philadelphia precincts reporting. When Montgomery County precincts were entered, Washington lost to Haywood.