The Primary Election told us that eastern Delaware County will not need a new state senator after all. Sen. Anthony Williams, D-8, who represents much of the eastern portion of the county, was soundly defeated in his bid for the Democratic nomination to be the next mayor of Philadelphia by former Councilman Jim Kenney.
There are, however, folks in two towns that are going to need a new state rep.
That would be Yeadon and Darby boroughs here in Delaware County, as well as the rest of the 191st legislative district.
This does not have anything to do with an election.
It's because the man who held that seat, Democratic state Rep. Ronald Waters, yesterday pleaded guilty in a corruption probe. Waters was one of several Dem legislators caught on tape pocketing gifts from a businessman in a sting operation.
You might recall this investigation is at the center of the controversy surrounding state Attorney General Kathleen Kane. Soon after taking office, she deep-sixed the probe, calling it fatally flawed and possibly even having a racial bias, since all those targeted in the probe were African-American legislators.
Philly District Attorney Seth Williams, also a Democrat, took up her challenge to prosecute the case, and has been collecting guilty pleas ever since.
With his admission, Waters immediately gave up his seat in the Legislature.
Yesterday, Waters told a judge in Harisburg that he "got caught up and I don't now where my mind was."
Waters pleaded guilty to nine counts of conflict of interest for pocketing $8,750 in bribes. He won't do any jail time, however. A judge yesterday sentenced him to 23 months probation. He's got to pay back the money, along with picking up the $5,000 tab for the Philly D.A.'s investigation.
And he gets to keep his state pension.
Nice.
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