CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte has been dealing with the Patrick Cannon scandal since the ex-mayor’s arrest and resignation on March 26th.
Cannon’s sentencing closes a sad chapter in city politics. Reaction tonight from the community, former colleagues and current city leaders.
“We hope that he’ll be okay,” said Cannon supporter Uncle Bossman. “Put this behind him. He made a mistake.”
There were plenty of people out in support of ex-mayor Patrick Cannon at the Federal Courthouse in Charlotte.
“I had a chance to shake his hand coming out of the courthouse, and I just told him, you know, be encouraged,” said Reverend Walter.
Cannon’s arrest, guilty plea and now this sentence: it’s a bitter pill for the Queen City to swallow.
“It’s a disappointment to the black community, to the white community, to every form of community,” said Walter. “Because any time you’re in a leader position, that you represent something, you have to uphold that. So Cannon did drop the ball.”
Cannon’s fall from grace has been especially hard for friends and colleagues like former city councilman Andy Dulin. But this sentence sends a message.
“That message to elected officials needs to be loud and clear,” said Dulin. “You’re not going to get away with it. You will be caught, and you will go to prison.”
Thoughts from the man who now sits in Cannon’s old office in the Government Center. Mayor Dan Clodfelter called this a sad day for Charlotte, and for Cannon.
“In public service, and he was in it for a long time, I’ve been in it for a long time,” said Mayor Clodfelter. “You sort of, you sort of feel sorry when that happens to somebody else, because you know what it means to them.”
Charlotte defense attorney George Laughrun, who is not involved in the case, says Judge Frank Whitney had a tough task, but delivered a fair sentence.
“Here’s the leader of my city too,” said Laughrun. “I live here too as a judge. This is my leader of my city, who got elected, and here’s what he was doing.”
