I thought this opinion piece was interesting about the shift to pro business elected officials leaving local governments very vulnerable to corruption:
http://contextflorida.com/rick-outzen-pro-business-mayors-susceptible-to-bribery-kickbacks/
QuoteThe great battle of the past two decades has been between the government professionals and business leaders. With the ever increasing demand for cities to lure employers and create jobs, the [government] professionals are now seen as being ill-equipped for economic development, which has given rise to business leaders dictating city policies and budgets.
Instead of our city governments protecting and serving those they govern and improving their residents' quality of life, they have morphed into branches of their chambers of commerce that offer public assets, subsidies and tax breaks to businesses. Leading the way to the rise of the pro-business mayors.
Recent events in South Florida show that the shift has created a system that is ripe for cronyism, bribery and graft.
Here's link to Miami Herald article about FBI investigation of kickbacks for Miami Lakes Mayor Pizzi and Sweetwater Marono:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/06/3545612/fbi-arrests-mayors-of-miami-lakes.html
Great article and I agree! It is no accident that three Florida Mayors were recently arrested for corruption. There should have been more.
And then there is this:
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/05/why-every-mayor-could-benefit-some-business-experience/5573/ (http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/05/why-every-mayor-could-benefit-some-business-experience/5573/)
Corruption seems to be more of an issue with the character of the person, and less about their resume.
IMO, the best politicians and public servants are those who have an understanding of both the public and private sectors...and a desire to serve the greater good and not their own interests.