Β It’s a political scandal of a level that hasn’t been seen in Charlotte since, well, maybe ever. Β Of course, there was the General Patraeus scandal, but that was just sex, not dirty money, and it wasn’t actually Charlotte politics. Β This time, we’re looking at charges of corruption that have catapulted our city, and our now former mayor, into the national spotlight. Β But does his resignation equal guilt in your eyes?
Around 7:30pm Wednesday, Mayor Cannon resigned the office of Charlotte Mayor. Β Officially, it’s because the situation is a distraction. Β The mayor is out on bail after being arrested by the FBI, after a four-year investigation during which agents say he accepted cash and other gifts in exchange for pushing through a bogus nighclub development project. Β And not just once, but five times.
Of course, the basis of our legal system is that people are innocent until proven guilty. Β But the court of public opinion is very different. Β People make up their minds based on how things look all the time. Β And so we hit the streets to ask: does the mayor’s resignation make him look guilty?
