Last week, former Harrisburg Mayor Steve Reed was arrested on nearly 500 criminal charges that included corruption, theft, bribery and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
"He was arrested for his role as the mastermind in a pattern of corruption that spanned approximately 20 years," Attorney General Kathleen Kane said at a press conference announcing the charges. "This scheme of serial issue of public debt sent the city of Harrisburg...into massive debt that sent this city into receivership and forced the sale of it's assets."
Reed, a Democrat, served as Harrisburg's mayor for 28 years from 1982 to 2010. He was elected into office seven times, each to four-year terms. He lost in the primary election to former mayor Linda Thompson in 2009.
After Reed left office, Harrisburg's City Council considered mayoral term limits — to two, four-year terms — but no legislation was ever enacted.