Angelo Cappelli

I like competitive campaigns and good candidates, regardless of ideology. Last fall, for a while at least, I heard good things about Angelo Cappelli, a Republican candidate for the state House from St. Petersburg. One guy whose judgment I trust even described Cappelli as one of the better legislative candidates he had seen. In the end, Cappelli's side lost its way with a stupid attack on the Democratic candidate and eventual winner, Bill Heller, trying to label the veteran college administrator as a "nutty professor." The community knew better.

Cappelli, 37, now has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from the estate of a deceased client of SunTrust, where he worked as an investment adviser. Police arrested him at his lawyer's office on Wednesday, and according to police, he gave a full confession. Naturally, some folks will take delight in this and try to draw some kind of bigger conclusion -- check out some of the public comments following today's news story. The only conclusion I would draw is that no one is immune from temptation, and no one is made virtuous by party label, or endorsements, or what other people say about them. It's just too bad.

Comments

[Winston]

Why couldn't he wait to be elected to start stealing? Then the Good Ol' Boys could have Covered His ---.

Howard, I guarantee you that there are people that have a principle that no financial temptation will overcome. Look around at all the stories of financially stressed people that return found money to the owners.

If it's mine, I want it. If it's yours, I don't. Several generations taught me this.

One thought I perceived on my own: Honesty is not just the truth, it is the ABSENCE OF DECEIT. Facts can be twisted and spun, but true Honesty cannot be twisted.

Angelo Cappelli had at least one, probably many previous unethical if not illegal dealings before in the securities field. He played hard & loose and got caught.