If Pennsylvania officials continue to get into trouble, it is likely that the commonwealth will move up the list of the most corrupt states in the nation.

The state was ranked number 5 in a 2014 joint Indiana University/Hong Kong University survey, and things have gone from bad to worse since then.In the past week, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams was indicted on corruption charges and for accepting bribes. In addition, Francis Dougherty, Allentown's former managing director and close political ally of Mayor Ed Pawlowski, pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge, and, in the process, Dougherty implicated the mayor in a pay-to-play corruption scandal.D.A. Williams has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Earlier this year, he was fined $62,000 by the city's ethics board for failing to report gifts he had received in conducting official business. This was the board's largest fine since it was set up in 2006.Williams said last month that he would not seek re-election in this May's Democratic primary election. He also apologized for any embarrassment and shame he had brought to his office as a result of the ethics violations. Seven Democrats and one Republican have filed nominating petitions for the district attorney's job. Williams' term ends Dec. 31.Dougherty pleaded guilty to one count of committing mail/wire fraud. As part of his plea deal, Dougherty has agreed to testify as a government witness. Dougherty is accused of rigging the contract bidding process at the insistence of Public Official No. 3, the FBI's code name for a high Allentown city official whose description fits only the Allentown mayor. Pawlowski, a Democrat, insists he has done nothing wrong and is a candidate for re-election for a fourth term. Six other Democrats and two Republicans are challenging him.In addition to Dougherty, three other city officials have pleaded guilty in connection with the pay-to-play scheme since the FBI investigation was made public in July 2015. They are: the city's former finance director Gary Strathearn, former controller Mary Ellen Koval and former assistant solicitor Dale Wiles.Three other nonofficials have also pleaded guilty, including Mike Fleck, former Pawlowski campaign manager, engineer Matthew McTish and developer Ramzi Haddad.Since 2014, 10 elected and appointed state officials have been convicted of wrongdoing. At the top of the list is former Attorney General Kathleen Kane, a Scranton Democrat, who was convicted of perjury last year. Also in 2016, state Rep. Louise Bishop was convicted of corruption, and state Rep. Leslie Acosta was convicted of embezzlement. Both are Philadelphia Democrats.In 2015, state Rep. Michelle Brownlee was convicted of conflict of interest, state Rep. Harold James was convicted of corruption and state Rep. Ronald Waters was convicted of bribery. All are Philadelphia Democrats.Former state Treasurer Rob McCord pleaded guilty in 2015 after being charged with two counts of extortion in connection with his unsuccessful run for governor in 2014. He is awaiting sentencing. Earlier this month, McCord testified for the government against Chester County businessman Richard Ireland, who was accused of trying to bribe McCord in exchange for state contracts. U.S. District Judge John Jones III today threw out the 79-count case against Ireland midtrial, saying he saw no evidence that favors were traded in exchange for campaign contributions.In 2014, state Sen. LeAnna Washington, D-Philadelphia and Montgomery, was convicted of conflict of interest, Turnpike Commissioner Joe Brimmeier pleaded guilty to felony conflict of interest charges, Turnpike Commission Chair Mitchell Rubin was sentenced to 24 months of probation for his plea to commit bribery, and Turnpike Commission Chief Operating Officer George Hatalowich pleaded guilty to felony conflict of interest charges.Last month, a federal judge sentenced U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, to 10 years in prison on charges of racketeering, fraud and money laundering.The list does not include two Pennsylvania State Supreme Court justices who stepped down after being caught up in the infamous "porngate" investigation launched by the state Attorney General's office in 2015. They are Michael Eakin, a Republican, and Seamus McCarthy, a Democrat, both of whom were accused of sending inappropriate emails to friends. Several other appointed state officials also resigned because of their involvement in the "porngate" scandal.If this keeps up, Pennsylvania might creep up the "most corrupt" list and overtake Illinois (No. 4), Tennessee (No. 3), Louisiana (No. 2) and Mississippi (No. 1).David Thornburgh, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, an independent government reform group, warned of the danger of this depth of official malfeasance."Persistent corruption is a factor which degrades confidence in our political system and leads to capable people deciding not to run for office, voters deciding to stay home and encourages an unhealthy attitude toward government and the policies which emerge from our leaders," he wrote.By Bruce Frassinelli |

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