A would-be politician with a conviction history

Thanks to Eliza from EBCLC for the pointer to this NYTimes story about a newly-elected mayor of a small town in Oklahoma, Mr. Christopher Linder, who, despite his electoral victory in that state, cannot take the office until his convictions are pardoned by the State of Arizona.  The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency decided not to recommend his pardon to Gov. Brewer.

But Mr. LaSota’s four colleagues voted no, dashing Mr. Linder’s hopes. They agreed with the chairman, Duane Belcher, who said Mr. Linder’s life of crime was not far enough in the past to merit a pardon.