It’s all about Bill
Though it was likely unintentional, Rep. Bill DeWeese’s farewell remarks on the House floor last week were quite ironic, considering the situation.
During his 20-minute speech, the Waynesburg lawmaker shared an interesting personal anecdote: “A long time ago, my divorce lawyer shouted to me, ‘Bill, it’s not about you. It’s about other people. Ask them how they’re doing,'” he said.
DeWeese’s actions have made it quite clear that he never took that advice to heart. After all, the longtime legislator’s actions are clearly all about him – no matter the cost to other people.
Let’s recap: DeWeese was able to win re-election two years ago despite being indicted. And despite being convicted in February of three counts of theft and one count each of conspiracy and conflict of interest for using taxpayers’ money to get re-elected, he chose to run again in the April 24 primary.
Travis Barkley of Greensboro had filed a challenge to DeWeese’s nominating petition, claiming he was ineligible to run since he was convicted, but the court ruled that DeWeese can run because his conviction won’t be official until his sentencing which is scheduled for the date of the primary election.
DeWeese could still resign, allowing Democratic Party officials in the 50th district, which includes all of Greene and parts of Fayette and Washington counties, to pick a candidate to run in the fall election. But that sure doesn’t seem likely with DeWeese vowing to pursue a legal fight to the bitter end – despite all logic and precedent that says his conviction would never be overturned in time for him to assume office.
So, because of his narcissistic refusal to step down, the 50th faces an uncertain future after DeWeese is sentenced as expected on April 24 and steps down.
In all probability, the 50th district won’t have a representative for at least the rest of the year.
That means his townships and school districts he’s so fond of name-dropping will have zero representation in Harrisburg.
The number of scenarios in November is where the real chaos lies. Since he’s on the Democratic primary ballot unopposed, and if he refuses to step down, DeWeese will be the party’s candidate in November. And if DeWeese somehow wins and, as expected, his conviction isn’t overturned, then a special election will have to be held next year, probably in the spring primary, with the seat in the 50th district remaining vacant until then.
If he stays on the ballot, the only way the 50th will have representation in 2012 is if DeWeese loses to the Republican candidate, which is a distinct possibility since campaigning from prison is a bit difficult, to say nothing about being embarrassing.
In that scenario DeWeese would be all but handing the 50th District to the Republicans on a silver platter – something that if he cared about his party more than himself, he never would let happen.
The right thing for DeWeese to do would have been to resign right after being convicted. Then, a special election for the remainder of his term could have been held in conjunction with the regular election for the next two years. By stepping down he could have made sure that residents in the 50th district would have a continued voice in the affairs of the state House and virtually guaranteed that a fellow Democrat would have succeeded him.
But we all know that DeWeese isn’t concerned about the right thing. He’s concerned about what’s best for himself.
We’ve come to expect this kind of behavior from the loquacious legislator – even after all the promise he showed in his early career. But what’s truly galling is that he could stand on the floor of the House a convicted man and get a standing ovation from the representatives gathered there.
Ponder that for a moment: A man who’s doing everything he can to put himself first as the clear determinant of his constituents deserves a round of applause.
No wonder Harrisburg is so broken.