Mike Berlon

Mike Berlon is the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia.{{cite web |url=http://www.georgiademocrat.org/our-party/party-officers/ |title=Party Officers | Georgia Democrats |publisher=Georgiademocrat.org |date=2011-01-29 |accessdate=2013-02-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208194750/http://www.georgiademocrat.org/our-party/party-officers/ |archivedate=2013-02-08 }} He served from early 2011 until June 9, 2013, when he resigned following accusations of professional misconduct. On February 25, 2015 Berlon pleaded guilty to one charge of wire fraud in Federal court.

Political career

In January 2011, Berlon was elected as the chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia.{{cite web|url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=189218 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410200223/http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=189218 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 10, 2013 |title=Mike Berlon Elected Georgia Dem Party Chairman |publisher=firstcoastnews.com |date=2004-05-19 |accessdate=2013-02-11}} During his tenure he emphasized a grassroots strategy to make the Democratic Party more competitive outside of the Atlanta metro area{{cite web|url=http://www.gpb.org/news/2011/03/27/democrats-court-voters-outside-atlanta |title=Democrats Court Voters Outside Atlanta |publisher=Gpb.org |date= |accessdate=2013-02-10}} and a progressive platform including job creation, increased pay for teachers and educators, and increased funding of public schools.{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/opinion/no-challenge-is-more-vital-than-job-creation/nQQpJ/ |title=No challenge is more vital than job creation |publisher=www.ajc.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-10}}

On May 29, 2013, the Democratic Party of Georgia released a statement saying Berlon would resign his chairmanship, after Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed called for him to step down.{{cite web|url=http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/ga-democratic-party-chairman-steps-down/nX574/ |title=Ga. Democratic Party chairman steps down |publisher=wsbtv.com |date=2013-05-29 |accessdate=2013-06-22}} In a subsequent statement released to the media, Berlon announced his resignation from the state party would be effective midnight on June 9, 2013.

Stance on party-switchers

Berlon has also been a strong critic of elected Democrats that switch to the Republican Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.11alive.com/news/article/259100/40/Georgia-Democrats-furious-as-turncoat-lawmaker |title=Georgia Democrats furious at turncoat lawmaker |publisher=11alive.com |accessdate=2013-02-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130407154025/http://www.11alive.com/news/article/259100/40/Georgia-Democrats-furious-as-turncoat-lawmaker |archivedate=2013-04-07 }} During his tenure, several Democrats switched parties to take advantage of the state's Republican-lean, most notably State House Caucus Chair Doug McKillip,{{cite web |url=http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/17878779/state-rep-doug-mckillip-is-7th-ga-democrat-to-switch-to-gop |title=State Rep. Doug McKillip is 7th Ga. Democrat to Switch to GOP - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5 |publisher=Myfoxatlanta.com |date=2010-12-07 |accessdate=2013-02-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130527200056/http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/17878779/state-rep-doug-mckillip-is-7th-ga-democrat-to-switch-to-gop |archivedate=2013-05-27 }} and State Representative Rick Crawford (who stated his intention to switch immediately after his re-election campaign). The Democratic Party of Georgia unsuccessfully attempted to remove Crawford from the ballot.{{cite web|url=http://www.gpb.org/news/2012/10/01/dems-want-crawford-off-ballot |title=Dems Want Crawford Off Ballot |publisher=Gpb.org |date= |accessdate=2013-02-10}}

All three party-switchers lost in their next election.{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/election/2012-08-01/quick-beats-mckillip-house-district-117-frye-takes-down-heard-district-118-house |title=Quick beats McKillip in House District 117; Frye takes down Heard in District 118 House contest |publisher=Online Athens |date=2012-08-01 |accessdate=2013-02-10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/70963/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411001749/http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/archives/70963/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-11 |title=Bell's political star fades after primary loss |publisher=Gainesvilletimes.com |date=2012-08-04 |accessdate=2013-02-10 }}{{cite web |url=http://times-georgian.com/view/full_story/20745261/article-Election--Dobbs-takes-BOC-seat--Ray-wins-BOE-seat- |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115132136/http://times-georgian.com/view/full_story/20745261/article-Election--Dobbs-takes-BOC-seat--Ray-wins-BOE-seat- |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-15 |title=Election Dobbs takes BOC seat Ray wins BOE seat |publisher=Times-Georgian |accessdate=2013-02-10 }}

Federal fraud conviction

After an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Berlon pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and was sentenced on February 25, 2015, to 5 years and 3 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release for stealing over $2 million from his clients. He also agreed to pay over $2 million in restitution.{{cite news|url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/almID/1202719092266/former-state-democratic-party-chair-pleads-guilty-to-wire-fraud/|title=Former State Democratic Party Chair Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud|author=Kathleen Baydala Joyner|date=February 26, 2015|work=Law.com Daily Report}}{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-gwinnett-lawyer-sentenced-prison-stealing-funds-his-clients |title=Former Gwinnett Lawyer Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Funds from His Clients |publisher=justice.gov |date= 15 May 2015|accessdate=2020-11-20}}

References

Category:Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats

Category:Living people

Category:State political party chairs of Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)