W. Carlton Weddington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
W. Carlton Weddington
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Weddington accepting a bribe from the FBI
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| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 27th district |
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| In office January 5, 2009 – March 13, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Joyce Beatty |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Boyce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 4, 1970 Columbus, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Columbus, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Hampton University |
Wilburn Carlton Weddington is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives. He represented the 27th District. He left his position in March 2012 due to serious issues related to his work. He was the first state lawmaker in Ohio in 100 years to face such problems while in office.
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About W. Carlton Weddington
Early Life and School
Wilburn Carlton Weddington was born in Columbus, Ohio, on April 4, 1970. His father, Dr. Wilburn Harold Weddington, was a family doctor. His mother was Rose Carline (Howard) Weddington. Carlton was one of five children in his family.
He went to Hampton University. There, he earned a degree in political science. This subject is about how governments work.
His Work Before Politics
Before joining the Ohio House, Weddington worked in several roles. He was a helper for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. He also served on the Columbus School Board from 2006 to 2009. He was also a leader for the Ohio School Board Association (OSBA).
Serving in the Ohio House
In 2008, Weddington decided to run for the Ohio House of Representatives. The previous leader, Joyce Beatty, could not run again. Weddington won the election and became a state representative.
He served as the Secretary for the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus PAC. This group helps African American lawmakers. The Speaker of the House, Armond Budish, also made Weddington a Vice Chairman. This role was for the House Local Government and Public Administration Committee.
Weddington ran for re-election in 2010 and won again. He continued to serve the people of his district.
What He Cared About
As a representative, Weddington spoke about important issues. He thought that Ohio Governor John Kasich's team needed more different kinds of people.
He also talked about the state's budget for transportation. He did not agree with a plan that would let county court clerks act as deputy registrars. He felt this would hurt small businesses.
Weddington also spoke about a bill that would require a photo ID to vote. He believed this bill would make it harder for African American voters to cast their ballots.
Why He Left Office
In March 2012, Weddington resigned from his position. This happened after an investigation by the FBI. The investigation looked into his actions as a lawmaker.
The FBI had received information about his conduct. They looked into how he handled certain laws. For example, they found an email where he asked for "serious cheese" (money) from a lobbyist. This was related to a bill about payday loans.
Undercover FBI agents created a fake wine company. They spent money on trips and meals for Weddington. They wanted to see if he would help their fake company. Weddington then worked on a bill to help this company sell wine in Ohio. He did not report these gifts on his financial forms.
On March 13, 2012, Weddington faced charges. These charges were about his actions and not reporting gifts. He agreed to work with the FBI. He resigned from his job and stopped running for re-election.
In June 2012, Weddington was sentenced. He received a three-year prison sentence. He began serving his time in August 2012.
In June 2014, his lawyers asked for him to be released early. They said he had been a good inmate. He helped other inmates learn to read. He also took classes and helped with community programs. However, the judge denied this request.
Weddington was later released early from prison on October 30, 2014. This was about 10 months before his full sentence ended.
