Under these damagingly discouraging circumstances, it would be interesting to know if he still nurses those lofty political aspirations. 

By IKE MGBATOGU
Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS – When former State Representative W. Carlton Weddington was being prosecuted for influence peddling involving a rash of transgressions, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien hinted that “one or more” members of the Ohio House could similarly be in hot water. 

At the time, he would not specify a name but now it is clear he was talking about the unlucky ‘Luckie,’ Rep. Clayton Luckie that is. 

Luckie, a Democrat who represented Dayton’s 39th district, was in the news months ago reportedly for charges stemming from unspecified transgressions. Much about his unraveling saga wasn’t reported then. But Luckie was at that time actually being charged with a host of transgressions, including wrongful spending of campaign money and filing falsified documents to cover up his shenanigans.

Apparently, when he was in the news, his troubles were downplayed only because of a plea deal that was in the works. At that time, he was even hopeful enough about his predicament that he was “still planning to run” for reelection.

But that won’t happen.  Last week, the 49-year old Luckie pleaded guilty to eight felony charges, including helping himself to nearly $130,000 of his campaign money then engaging in a six year pattern of falsifying records to conceal his illegal activities. It reached a level that O’Brien described as “the most egregious conduct we discovered.” 

According to court record, Luckie spent a good sum of the money on himself and his personal issues. Now, he is headed to prison where he will call home for the next three years. He is required to pay back the sum of $12,000 to the state.  

Luckie, who became a legislator in 2006, joins Weddington – the imprisoned former Columbus lawmaker who was nabbed in a web of scandal exposed by FBI sting operation. He started serving his own three year sentence on August 17, last year.

Luckie accepted responsibility for his actions. He also apologized, “for the errors in judgment that I have made… I tried to act in my job to the best of my capability,” he said, adding, “I think I spread myself too thin, from working too hard to help my constituents.”

Speaking of “thin,” Luckie’s plans for the future wasn’t thin at all.  When interviewed by the Call and Post in August 2011, as part of a conversation series with each member of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, he said he was interested in becoming mayor of Dayton or a state senator.

Under these damagingly discouraging circumstances, it would be interesting to know if he still nurses those lofty political aspirations.

Mgbatogu is a freelance writer and editor of Onumba.com based in Columbus.  He can be reached by email at Onumbamedia@yahoo.com