Bill Courtright
William L. Courtright (born December 1, 1957) was the former mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is currently incarcerated after a multi year FBI investigation. He was convicted in 2020 on bribery, extortion and criminal conspiracy charges and sentenced to 7 years in priosn.[1] He was elected on November 5, 2013, defeating Republican Jim Mulligan, 55%-45%. He was re-elected on November 7, 2017, again defeating Republican nominee, Jim Mulligan, 52%-48%. On July 1, 2019, Courtright resigned as mayor, following FBI raids of his home and Scranton City Hall on January 10th, 2019.
Bill Courtright | |
---|---|
30th Mayor of Scranton | |
In office January 6, 2014 – July 1, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Christopher Doherty |
Succeeded by | Paige Cognetti |
Personal details | |
Born | Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | December 1, 1957
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Kim Courtright |
Residence | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
Political career
First elected mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2013.
Prior to running for mayor, Courtright served on the Scranton City Council for six years. He was also elected Scranton Tax Collector on November 3, 2009, and served a four year term.
He resigned on July 1, 2019 due to a multi year FBI investigation into Courtright involving bribery and extortion.
Personal life
Courtright and his wife, Kim, have three children, William, Jr., Patrick, and Lindsey.[1]
FBI agents raided his home on January 9, 2019. The FBI did not immediately disclose what crimes Bill Courtright was suspected of committing. As a result of these raids, he resigned from his position as mayor. Less than 24 hours after resigning as the Mayor of Scranton, Bill Courtright was in federal court pleading guilty to public corruption charges. Federal prosecutors say Courtright extorted and bribed business people looking to work in the city the entire time he was in office. [2] [3]
On October 2 2020, Bill Courtright was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and ordered to pay a 25,000 dollar fine. He plead guilty to the charge of bribery, extortion and conspiracy.[4] He is currently serving his sentence at FCI Morgantown. Courtright is scheduled for release on 15 October 2026.
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Courtright | 6,091 | 50.9% | ||
Democratic | Elizabeth Randol | 5,068 | 42.3% | ||
Democratic | Others | 812 | 6.7% | ||
Total votes | 11,971 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Courtright | 8,782 | 54.8% | ||
Republican | Jim Mulligan | 7,229 | 45.2% | ||
Total votes | 16,011 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Courtright (inc.) | 4,864 | 100.0% | ||
Total votes | 4,864 | 100.0% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Courtright (inc.) | 7,452 | 51.8% | ||
Republican | Jim Mulligan | 6,939 | 48.2% | ||
Total votes | 14,391 | 100.0% |
References
- "Scranton Pennsylvania". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- WNEP-16
- "FBI raids Scranton City Hall, mayor's house; reason unknown". WJAC. Scranton, PA. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- "Former Scranton Mayor Sentenced To Seven Years Imprisonment on Public Corruption Charges". justice.gov. October 2, 2020.
- "2013 Primary Results". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- "2013 Election Results". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- "2017 Primary Results". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- "2017 Election Results". Retrieved 12 January 2018.