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A look at convicted politicians who try comebacks

By WTOP Staff

JENNIFER McDERMOTT
Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Not all politicians convicted of crimes leave politics for good. This week, ex-Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci decided to run for mayor again, despite a corruption conviction and 4 1/2 years spent in prison. A look at high-profile politicians who wouldn’t let a conviction stand in the way of a bid for public office:

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BUDDY CIANCI

Cianci was forced to resign as mayor in 1984 after he was convicted of assault. Six years later, he won his job back, but Cianci’s second mayoral reign, known around town as Buddy II, ended in 2002 when he was convicted of racketeering conspiracy and sent to prison as part of an investigation into corruption in City Hall. Cianci announced Wednesday he is trying for Buddy III, running as an independent for what would be a seventh term as mayor.

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EDWIN EDWARDS

The former Louisiana governor served eight years in prison for a felony racketeering conviction arising from the licensing of riverboat casinos in his fourth term. Edwards announced in March he is running to represent Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, ending months of speculation about his political future.

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JAMES TRAFICANT and TED STEVENS

Both members of Congress tried but failed to make political comebacks after felony convictions. Traficant was expelled from Congress in 2002 and served seven years in prison for accepting bribes and taking kickbacks. An Ohio Democrat, he tried to resurrect his political career and ran for re-election from prison, and again in 2010 after his release, but lost. The four-decade career of Alaska Sen. Stevens ended in 2008, when he lost his bid for re-election days after his conviction in a corruption case. The conviction was later dismissed.

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MARION BARRY

The mayor of the nation’s capital was famously caught on videotape smoking crack cocaine in 1990 in an FBI sting. After six months in prison, Barry was freed and won a seat on the City Council. He was re-elected to a fourth term as mayor in 1994 and now serves again on the council.

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ALCEE HASTINGS

As a federal judge, Hastings was acquitted in a jury trial on bribery charges but impeached by the U.S. Senate in 1989 on related allegations. In 1992, Hastings was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent a Florida district. He is serving his 11th term.

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JAMES MICHAEL CURLEY

The colorful mayor of Boston was facing a federal indictment when he was re-elected in 1945 by a wide margin. He was convicted of mail fraud and spent five months of his fourth mayoral term in a Connecticut prison in 1947 before his sentence was commuted. Like Cianci, Curley served time in prison earlier in his career too. He was convicted of fraud for taking a civil service exam for another man.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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