[snedfree]

One town in Rutherford Co re-elected the same corrupt mayor for decades on end; he was the longest serving elected official in state history. Over the course of his administration he stole the contemporary equivalent of millions of dollars from the small town, which had a population of a thousand or so during his tenure. He won his last election (with ~80% of the vote) while actively & publicly embroiled in the lawsuit that would ultimately cause the state supreme court to order his removal from office. After he was forced out, the town's elected council immediately appointed the town manager, his twin brother, as temporary replacement; his twin announced he'd just do whatever his deposed brother told him to do... and won his own election in this platform. One resident, when interviewed about the affair, admitted the former mayor was corrupt and a thief, but defended his record saying he was a good old boy and "never did anything bad-wrong" like murder. One of the town's major thoroughfares is named after this long-(self)serving mayor and he's still revered with nearly saint-like status in that town.