Terry McGirth never tried to hide from his past.
The Yeadon Borough councilman never tried to cover up or lie about his criminal conviction.
He was upfront with the voters. He said he had turned his life around.
The felony conviction stemmed from a theft charge in which he pleaded guilty in 2003 in Chester County to stealing more than $100,000 from a kidney dialysis company.
When his record was revealed during his campaign for a seat on borough council, McGirth met the situation head-on. He was up-front with voters.
They decided to give McGirth another chance, and voted for him anyhow.
Turns out the law isn’t so forgiving.
State law prohibits someone convicted of an “infamous crime” from holding public office. Strangely, it doesn’t mean you can’t run for office. You just can’t actually take the seat if you win.
McGirth’s conviction falls under the fairly wide umbrella of “infamous.”
Somebody notified the county district attorney’s office and they went to court seeking McGirth’s ouster from the seat he has held since 2007.
Delco Judge George Pagano weighed in Wednesday, and the news was not good for McGirth. He’s out. Apparently McGirth will not appeal the ruling.
Council will now have to fill McGirth’s seat. In the ever-simmering world of Yeadon politics, that may be easier said than done.
Ironically, council meets tonight.
McGirth’s troubles are not over. He still faces trial on charges brought against him by another borough employee.
There’s something troubling about what happened to McGirth. Our society is supposed to be all about offering those who have strayed a second chance, a shot at turning their lives around.
McGirth did that.
Then there is the notion, forwarded by McGirth’s attorney John F.
Licari, that the decision on whom should represent them should be made by Yeadon residents.
They made their decision at the polls when they voted for McGirth.
But they’ve been overruled by the courts, and McGirth’s past.
I guess some debts are harder to repay than others.
The Yeadon Borough councilman never tried to cover up or lie about his criminal conviction.
He was upfront with the voters. He said he had turned his life around.
The felony conviction stemmed from a theft charge in which he pleaded guilty in 2003 in Chester County to stealing more than $100,000 from a kidney dialysis company.
When his record was revealed during his campaign for a seat on borough council, McGirth met the situation head-on. He was up-front with voters.
They decided to give McGirth another chance, and voted for him anyhow.
Turns out the law isn’t so forgiving.
State law prohibits someone convicted of an “infamous crime” from holding public office. Strangely, it doesn’t mean you can’t run for office. You just can’t actually take the seat if you win.
McGirth’s conviction falls under the fairly wide umbrella of “infamous.”
Somebody notified the county district attorney’s office and they went to court seeking McGirth’s ouster from the seat he has held since 2007.
Delco Judge George Pagano weighed in Wednesday, and the news was not good for McGirth. He’s out. Apparently McGirth will not appeal the ruling.
Council will now have to fill McGirth’s seat. In the ever-simmering world of Yeadon politics, that may be easier said than done.
Ironically, council meets tonight.
McGirth’s troubles are not over. He still faces trial on charges brought against him by another borough employee.
There’s something troubling about what happened to McGirth. Our society is supposed to be all about offering those who have strayed a second chance, a shot at turning their lives around.
McGirth did that.
Then there is the notion, forwarded by McGirth’s attorney John F.
Licari, that the decision on whom should represent them should be made by Yeadon residents.
They made their decision at the polls when they voted for McGirth.
But they’ve been overruled by the courts, and McGirth’s past.
I guess some debts are harder to repay than others.
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