I know this sounds like a joke with a punch line that goes like this; "Sure, with all the thieves why not?"
But, I did receive several emails after a post on the GOP race in the 37th Congressional District asking me just that. See post here. One GOP candidate "Bishop" Guillory is a convicted Kidnapper. How can he run, you ask??
I know this answer, becasue I registered a convicted felon to vote at a local Republican booth just before the 2004 elections. He was hardcore is so many ways. That’s right convicted felons can vote and hold office in California IF they are not in prison or on parole. You can see it for yourself on the Secretary of State website here.
Hey ,it’s better than all the uncovicted felons in office.
June 13th, 2007 at 12:00 am
The idea of former criminals holding public office has a long history in our country with many being considered successful in the offices they held. Generally when they have won, it was with an open admission of their mistakes and a campaign that argued that they had reformed and didn’t want others to follow in their footsteps. However, there are sometimes other reasons given. James Michael Curley (the subject of the famous book “The Last Hurrah”) once was reelected Mayor while sitting in a jail cell for taking a civil service test for a friend (and although Curley disputed this point, the prosecutor said he was paid). Curley won after saying that he was just trying to help out a friend as any decent public servant should.