Jan 26, 2012 1 min read

Sharon Rodavich, a former aide to state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg,  testified Thursday that she spent years running DeWeese’s re-election campaigns and told the jury that it was “common” for his state-paid staff to do campaign work on the taxpayers’ time.

According to the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Rodavich said DeWeese’s district staff did a variety of election tasks, including gathering signatures on nominating petitions, on taxpayer-paid time. His employees were pressured to work on campaigns and make financial contributions, Rodavich said.

Campaign work on state time was particularly frequent in 2006 to ward off a challenger after he voted the year before for a controversial legislative pay raise, she testified. She said she also heard DeWeese once pose the idea of giving taxpayer-paid raises to staff members who worked hard on campaigns.

Rodavich, 56, pleaded guilty last week to one count each of conspiracy and conflict of interest and agreed to testify against DeWeese.

For more details see Friday’s HeraldStandard.com.