This hasn’t been a good day for Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford. First, Jefferson County senators failed to approve either of two proposals to raise the mayor’s pay (one would be immediate, the other would be effective at the beginning of the next term of office). Then Transit Director David Hill found his backbone and refused to implement Larry’s four-month bus fare holiday until the city disburses some promised funds to help pay for it. Langford thinks Hill should be fired for daring to defy him. I think it’s possible Mr. Hill finally got around to reading about Larry’s propensity to spend money he doesn’t have, which led in part to the SEC filing suit against the mayor.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today filed a federal civil complaint against Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, Montgomery banker Bill Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre, claiming Langford received benefits in exchange for county bond business.
The SEC, in the action filed in Birmingham federal court, accuses Langford of accepting more than $156,000 in cash and benefits from Blount in exchange for helping Blount’s firm, Blount Parrish and Co., obtain $6.7 million worth of county bond and financial business between July 2002 and August 2004.
The SEC also accuses Langford of obtaining help from Blount and LaPierre to secure and later pay off personal bank loans. LaPierre is accused in the civil action of receiving $219,500 from Blount to help obtain the county’s financial business from Langford.
If you’re up for some light reading, the SEC filing is here.