George Pabey

Who is George Pabey?

George Pabey is a former mayor of East Chicago, Indiana, United States. He was elected into office in an October 2004 special election, and assumed office in January 2005. On September 24, 2010 he was removed from office after being found guilty in a federal court of conspiracy and theft of government funds.

One of seven children born to Puerto Rican immigrants, he became the city's first Hispanic mayor. His service to the city began in the capacity of police officer in 1972, and he was promoted to Chief of Police in 1990. He entered politics in 1999, winning a seat on the city's Common Council.

His tenure as mayor began in 2005, after he defeated longtime mayor Robert Pastrick in a special election called after Pabey mounted a legal challenge to the 2003 Municipal Election results, alleging widespread voter fraud. There were allegations of fraud against Pastrick when absentee ballots appeared skewed in the 33-year incumbent's favor. Although Pastrick was never indicted, other city officials were sent to jail in the ensuing federal investigation of misuse of public funds in an alleged vote-buying scheme frequently referred to as "Sidewalks for Votes".