I don’t know if it changed my view on public officials. However, it did open my eyes to what a scam the whole “red light camera” idea is for our cities.

I feel that most city officials are honest and trustworthy, even if some may lack motivation and drive. So I was surprised to read that Shawn Brown was involved in an attempted kick-back scheme. It amazed me, though, that he was willing to risk his career and reputation in exchange for a bag filled with just pennies and nickels. There are bad apples in every bag, so I can’t judge all elected officials based on Brown’s attempted scheme, and I don’t know enough about the City of St. Peters to comment on the city itself.

I am serving my time still I think it is time that we drop what has happen in the past. St peters has bigger things to worry about like the 370 project 25 million is alot to pay back. We will all find out by Dec 31st 2008 St. Peters is a great city to raise a family. That is the reason I did come back. I am paying my debt my family is also. So please respect that. I’m not in the public’s eye anymore and remember that I have two wonderful kids to care for that is the most important thing. By the way the Book will be out shortly and it is a tell all the real TRUTH.

Ok, I want to know something…..Do you folks, writers have nothing else better to do, but to bring up the past and get into other peoples business? Don’t you have anything else to worry or write about? You and many other people DO NOT know the real Shawn Brown! (Too bad for you) What has happened to him, happens all the time in politics. It’s politics. It goes on all the time! NO ONE knows what really happened. All you people can talk about is what you DONT know about Shawn and his family and I suggest you all mind you’alls own business and worry about your own problems & ride off into the sunset and don’t worry about Shawn Brown because he is back and is a BETTER person than you all will ever know! By the way, I can’t wait to read the book! Maybe you all should too!

LDonovan and the exmayor,
Has anyone in the comments said anything spiteful about Brown. Ryan seemed to wonder why someone would do that for so little reward. I think this is a question we all ask ourselves when we hear about what amounts to an illogical crime.
It is not Brown’s private business. He was doing this as an elected public official who was paid by our tax dollars. His trial and incarceration happened on our dime, too.
I could have respected Brown’s thoughts if LDonovan hadn’t tried to belittle those who questioned why. LDonovan’s comments has had the reverse effect and left me unsympathetic and actually furious with Brown. (By the way, can one profit–aka write a book–about one’s own crimes in this state.)

SammieJo-
No, noone has said anything in these comments spiteful, but all articles in the past has and I never replied to any of those, so I’m just voicing my opinion here. Your right, he was an elected public official who was paid by our tax dollars and was incarcerated on our dime, but he has paid for his mistake (if he really did anything wrong?) again politics…..
Thats what I’m saying, NOONE knows the real truth. Like I’ve said before, these type of things go on all the time in politics, we have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. You have the right to be furious with Brown, it’s sad because you still truely DO NOT know the man and what the real truth is. (by the way, maybe one can profit off the book, one never knows until one tries) Also, you don’t truly know if it was a crime or not. I say someone was jealous over the fact, he was young and a go getter and got the jobs done!

I hope Brown and his family well and that his ordeal will cause him to be a better and stronger person. Remember, its not about where you’ve been, but where you end up. Hopefully, you come to the point in your life where God will use all that bad and turn it into good in order to glorify Him.

There are many elected officials who deserve to be in prison, including judges etc… Some just have not been caught, others are being protected and their crime(s) covered, but all are guilty just the same and will not escape punishment even though they not believe this.

This didn’t affect my views of St. Peters city officials. I already knew they were crooks. Show me a red light camera and I’ll show you a group of greedy, crooked city officials. Shawn was just the tip of the proverbial ice berg.

Shawn Brown writing a book? Oh that’s what they all say…read my book so I can make a fortune and it will be the truth.We already know the truth…you CHEATED.Shame on you

I worked for the City of St. Peters for a short time while Shawn Brown was mayor and I can tell you that he was not liked by most city employees. He was rumored to have done a lot of shady deals with special interest groups (ie. the opposition to the 370 project paid him a lot of money to take a view that was contrary to the city’s majority and offical stance.)

Was he was a shady local politician? Yes. Is he the only one? No. But, just because we can’t catch ALL shady politicians in the act doesn’t mean we shouldn’t prosecute the ones we do catch. Perhaps he might serve as an example to other area mayors.