Politics

Little Sympathy For Veon In His Former District

BEAVER (KDKA) ― In Beaver where he rose to become one of the most powerful political powers in the state, Mike Veon was once a hero - a man who took care of the people who put him there.

But somewhere along the line, the people in his former district say Veon forgot his roots and his ideals.

Instead of working for the people, state prosecutors say he used the people's resources for his own ends and political gain.

"Well I feel that Mike Veon started out very well for Beaver County and unfortunately it seems that he's taken advantage of the county and now justice has to be served and it's a shame," Cliff Deitz, from Beaver, said.

Veon had staked his name and his career on trying to bring money and opportunity back to a district wracked with economic hardship - whether that was trying to bring the slots and horse racing here or economic development funds for B.I.G. - the Beaver Initiative for Growth.

But Veon became a statewide figure of greed when he became the only legislator unwilling to rescind the late-night pay raise that caused such an uproar, saying he was worth every penny.

"I think he probably had a sense of hubris and arrogance and as a result people lost confidence in him," Marian Hayduk, from Brighton Township, said.

And now B.I.G. is under a state investigation for possible misappropriation of funds and Veon stands accused of turning his taxpayer-funded office into a campaign machine. The presentment includes other abuses, including having state employees riding his motorcycle for him to South Dakota to be there for their vacations.

And people in Beaver County feel betrayed and have little sympathy.

"When you vote a politician in that he has to be beholding to the public, not just his interest and I say whatever he did he should be held accountable for it," Andrew Pollack, from Hopewell, said.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---