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.
Closer Look
Related Photos
Discussion
OUR OPINION: Orelli hangs on
- Closer Look
-
-
Must-See Video: Watch and listen to perhaps the greatest marriage proposal ever
Last week, he told his girlfriend to meet him at his parents house for dinner. When she arrived he had stationed his brother to sit her in the back of an open vehicle and give her some headphones. He "wanted to play her a song"...
-
Must-See Video: Quite possibly the most amazing beat box performance ever
French beat box phenomenon EKLIPS performs a four-minute history of hip hop music ... in one single take! If you love music and admire talented performers, then this video is a must-see!
-
Must-See Video: NBA star poses as old man — then crushes people in pickup game
Kyrie Irving has gone old school. Very old school. The NBA's Rookie of the Year is featured in a new commercial for Pepsi MAX making the rounds on YouTube. In the ad, viewers are introduced to Irving's character, an older man named "Uncle Drew."
-
Television: Phillip Phillips is new ‘American Idol’
Phillip Phillips, a bluesy Georgia guitar man, was crowned the new “American Idol” on Wednesday. He claimed the title after defeating teenager Jessica Sanchez in record viewer voting. He was the fifth male “Idol” winner in a row.
-
Lori Brothers: Aim to hit goals ‘most of the time’
Most of the time, I make healthy eating choices. I have rice cakes and a small can of chick peas in my desk drawer right now — for emergencies. I want to know I have options available. I choose well, “most of the time.”
-
GOP committee members taken to task
A committee is considering complaints filed against eight Lawrence County Republican Committee members. The three-member committee conducted hearings last night at St. Marguerite’s Hall in Mahoningtown to consider the complaints.
-
Obituary, Video: Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees dies after cancer battle
With his carefully tended hair, tight trousers and perfect harmonies, Robin Gibb and his brothers Maurice and Barry defined disco. As part of the Bee Gees — short for the Brothers Gibb — they created dance floor classics like “Stayin Alive,” ‘’Jive Talkin’,” and “Night Fever” that still gets crowds onto a dance floor.
-
Dave Ramsey: It’s my food and my roof!
“Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”
-
‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer dies
Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as "Last Dance," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Bad Girls" became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63.
-
News Video: CMU students design ‘eco friendly’ home for county family
Students at Carnegie Mellon University are designing a home for a Lawrence County family. The future architects are part of a two-part course for their senior project. The class gives the students freedom to design the Habitat for Humanity home from the ground up.
- More Closer Look Headlines
-
