New Castle News
July 24, 2008 10:22 am
—
So Chet Orelli Jr. will hang around on New Castle City Council.
Ditto for his position as an aide in the office of state Rep. Jaret Gibbons.
But at least those advocating accountability in government can take comfort in the fact Orelli says he will return the $10,000 bonus he received in 2006. That money has been tied to Harrisburg’s legislative bonus scandal.
Orelli was awarded that bonus while working in the office of former state Rep. Mike Veon, a key figure in the scandal and one of a dozen people charged this month by the state attorney general’s office as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Orelli provided grand jury testimony in the probe — after receiving immunity from prosecution. That testimony helped to flesh out an operation within Harrisburg’s House Democratic caucus that made extensive use of legislative staffers to engage in partisan political activity on government time and using government resources and equipment.
There hasn’t been a great deal of outrage expressed over Orelli’s situation. Certainly, Orelli’s fellow public officials are in a forgiving mood.
As for average citizens, there have been very few calls for Orelli’s resignation from council. But maybe there’s not much in the way of high expectations for elected officials in the community any more.
Orelli was involved in a conspiracy that was breathtaking in scope, according to details provided by grand jury presentments. Investigators claim the plot included tracking the activities of 458 caucus employees in terms of how much political work they did.
Government computers and programs were used to record political performance. Activities ranged from going door to door in support of specific candidates to conducting opposition research into political foes — Republican and Democrat alike.
What’s outlined in the grand jury presentments (with promises of more gory details to come) isn’t your run-of-the-mill political sleaze. Instead, the presentments describe nothing less than an exercise in organized crime. This was a racket that siphoned millions of tax dollars to fund the political ambitions — and private preferences — of those involved in the plot.
And Orelli enjoyed a front-row seat to the show, courtesy of his post in Veon’s office.
After ducking repeated calls from the New Castle News for more than a week, Orelli was at city council’s work session Tuesday. He said he would remain on council because, “I want to finish what I ran to do.” Whatever that is.
Orelli will serve out his council term, which runs through 2009, with a cloud hanging over him. And who knows what other revelations are coming from the attorney general and investigating grand juries?
It’s astonishing that this is simply political business as usual for New Castle.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
