Puente, politicians' scourge, leaves Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND --This Sunday, Mark Puente's byline appeared in the Plain Dealer for the last time. Prosecutor Bill Mason, who found Puente on his front porch more times than he liked this year, is probably shaking off the fear of his own ringing doorbell. Ex-sheriff Gerald McFaul, still under house arrest for crimes Puente uncovered, may feel cursed anew to know his nemesis is free to enjoy southern sunshine.
Puente, the PD's best reporter of the past three years, left earlier this month to write about Florida real estate for the prestigious St. Petersburg Times. It's a shock to readers who appreciated his relentless exposés of Cleveland politicians, but no surprise to those close to him.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Mark Puente’s 18 stories about former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul’s office put the Plain Dealer police reporter on the front page and reminded the city that it still needs a watchdog.
CLEVELAND -- The reporter who took on the sheriff is a big guy, with glasses softening his round face. He is 39 years old and four years out of college. He has three sons, age 20, 20, and 19. He logged 1 million miles in 13 years as a trucker, and he’s licensed to hit the road again anytime. He’s not likely to. Journalism is working out pretty well.
As The Plain Dealer cops reporter, Mark Puente spends his workdays in a bare room in Cleveland police headquarters. He even talks in the clipped, staccato speech of a cop. He’s also the first to remind you that he’s a beat writer, not a crusader.
Shifting gears to new career is right move: An essay
CLEVELAND -- The buzzing of the alarm clock sounded like a freight train rumbling through the door. I felt like I'd gone to sleep three hours ago.
I did.
Why was I torturing myself? Did I need to go to college? No. I had a career. But then I envisioned myself 20 years later as a worn-out, bitter truck driver.
CLEVELAND -- The buzzing of the alarm clock sounded like a freight train rumbling through the door. I felt like I'd gone to sleep three hours ago.
I did.
Why was I torturing myself? Did I need to go to college? No. I had a career. But then I envisioned myself 20 years later as a worn-out, bitter truck driver.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
FBI investigating hiring of Pat Coyne at Cuyahoga County coroner's office
With Henry J. Gomez / Plain Dealer Reporter
CLEVELAND-- The FBI is investigating whether Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason forced the county coroner to hire a political ally, according to the sheriff's office.
Sheriff Bob Reid confirmed the investigation Friday in response to a Plain Dealer editorial urging his office to take action. Reid declined to comment beyond saying his office has consulted with the FBI.
With Henry J. Gomez / Plain Dealer Reporter
CLEVELAND-- The FBI is investigating whether Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason forced the county coroner to hire a political ally, according to the sheriff's office.
Sheriff Bob Reid confirmed the investigation Friday in response to a Plain Dealer editorial urging his office to take action. Reid declined to comment beyond saying his office has consulted with the FBI.
Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller fires top aide for a second time in two weeks
With Henry J. Gomez
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller has fired top aide Patrick Coyne for the second time this month.
The move, effective Friday, comes less than two weeks after Miller rescinded a termination letter that accused Coyne, a $120,000-a-year human resources and operations director, of stealing campaign money.
With Henry J. Gomez
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller has fired top aide Patrick Coyne for the second time this month.
The move, effective Friday, comes less than two weeks after Miller rescinded a termination letter that accused Coyne, a $120,000-a-year human resources and operations director, of stealing campaign money.
Former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul may have collected $500,000 from workers while in office
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul agreed to pay $131,000 in restitution when he was sentenced this year for theft in office, but a state investigators' file says he may have accepted more than half a million dollars in cash from his employees.
State officials last week released a 1,000-page file on the criminal investigation of McFaul, offering the most detailed view to date of how the former sheriff misbehaved in office. The file paints a picture of a man who began enriching himself soon after he pinned on his sheriff's badge 30 years ago and continued to grab as much cash as he could until the day in 2009 when he had to resign in disgrace.
State officials last week released a 1,000-page file on the criminal investigation of McFaul, offering the most detailed view to date of how the former sheriff misbehaved in office. The file paints a picture of a man who began enriching himself soon after he pinned on his sheriff's badge 30 years ago and continued to grab as much cash as he could until the day in 2009 when he had to resign in disgrace.
Prosecutor Bill Mason accepted $30,000 from donors implicated in corruption probes
With Henry J. Gomez
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason has accepted nearly $30,000 in campaign contributions over seven years from public officials and businessmen charged or implicated in two federal corruption investigations.
The amount is roughly 13 percent of what Mason, a prolific fundraiser who has cast himself as a crusader for campaign-finance reform, recently reported in his political fund.
With Henry J. Gomez
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason has accepted nearly $30,000 in campaign contributions over seven years from public officials and businessmen charged or implicated in two federal corruption investigations.
The amount is roughly 13 percent of what Mason, a prolific fundraiser who has cast himself as a crusader for campaign-finance reform, recently reported in his political fund.
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