Kathy McGuiness

Kathleen Kramedas McGuiness (born February 14, 1967)[1] is an American politician who was the Delaware state auditor, from January 2019 until October 2022. In July 2022, she was found guilty on multiple corruption charges.

Kathy McGuiness
McGuiness in 2021
Auditor of Delaware
In office
January 1, 2019 – October 19, 2022
GovernorJohn Carney
Preceded byTom Wagner
Succeeded byDennis Greenhouse
Personal details
Born
Kathleen Kramedas McGuiness

(1967-02-14) February 14, 1967
Dover, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma mater
Criminal information
Criminal statusProbation
Conviction(s)Conflict of interest
Official misconduct
Criminal penalty1 year probation, 500 hours of community service, $10,000 fine
Date apprehended
October 12, 2021

On September 13, 2022, McGuiness lost the Democratic primary election to challenger Lydia York in a 42-point landslide.[2] In October 2022, she was sentenced to one year of probation and was given a $10,000 fine for her corruption convictions. Following her sentencing, McGuiness resigned as auditor.[3]

Early life and career

McGuiness graduated from Cape Henlopen High School in 1985. She earned her bachelor's degree in biology at the Florida Institute of Technology and her bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University in Boston. After returning to Delaware, she bought a pharmacy in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where she was elected a town commissioner in 2000. She sold her pharmacy in 2002 to become a real estate agent.[4]

In 2010, McGuiness and her family moved to Park City, Utah, and she resigned from the Rehoboth town board in 2012 because she was unable to attend the meetings.[5] She moved back to Delaware and was elected to another term as a town commissioner in 2014.[6] As a member of the Democratic Party, McGuiness ran for lieutenant governor of Delaware in 2016, but she lost the party's nomination in the primary election.[7] She was subsequently appointed to the Delaware State University Board of Trustees by then governor, Jack Markell[8] and reelected to the town board in 2017.[9]

Delaware state auditor

In 2018, McGuiness ran for state auditor. She won the Democratic Party nomination, defeating Kathleen Davies and former state representative Dennis E. Williams in the primary election.[10] She defeated Republican James Spadola in the general election to become the first woman elected to the position.[11][12] She was sworn into office on January 1, 2019, replacing Republican Tom Wagner, who had decided not to seek reelection after serving in the office since 1989.[13][14]

Corruption charges, convictions, and resignation

On October 11, 2021, McGuiness was indicted on two felony charges and several misdemeanor charges that she paid her daughter and her daughter's friend nearly $30,000 from the state for jobs they did not work, orchestrated no-bid contracts for former campaign consultants while avoiding reporting requirements, and engaged in email surveillance and other intimidation of employees who became aware of her misconduct, among other charges.[15][16][17] The next day, she turned herself in and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.[18][19]

On July 1, 2022, McGuiness was found guilty of conflict of interest, structuring, and official misconduct and not guilty of felony theft and intimidation.[20] She faced up to 1 year in prison, but had a presumptive sentence of probation.[21]

On August 31, 2022, a judge overturned McGuiness's structuring conviction but upheld her convictions of conflict of interest and official misconduct. Her request for a new trial was denied.[22]

On October 19, 2022, McGuiness was sentenced to one year of probation and 500 hours of community service, and was given a $10,000 fine for conflict of interest and official misconduct. Later that day, she resigned from her position as auditor.[3] Governor John Carney chose Dennis Greenhouse as McGuiness's successor. Greenhouse had previously served as auditor from 1983 to 1989.[23]

References
  1. "Primaries Set in State, Sussex" (PDF). Cape Gazette. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  2. "Delaware Primary Election Results". The New York Times. September 13, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. "State Auditor Kathy McGuiness sentenced for public corruption convictions". The News Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  4. "'Cape Proud' of Kathy McGuiness". Cape Henlopen Educational Foundation. Cape Gazette. October 30, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  5. Mavity, Ryan (January 10, 2012). "McGuiness steps down in Rehoboth". Cape Gazette.
  6. Pacella, Rachael (August 21, 2014). "After two-year hiatus, McGuiness returns to Rehoboth board". DelmarvaNow. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  7. Cherry, Amy (October 26, 2015). "Rehoboth Beach Commissioner Kathy McGuiness hopes to be Delaware's next lieutenant governor". WDEL-FM. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  8. "Kathy McGuiness Sworn in as New DSU Board Member". Press Release. Delaware State University. January 19, 2017.
  9. Goebel, Taylor (November 21, 2018). "After election win, Kathy McGuiness to step down as Rehoboth commissioner". DelmarvaNow. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  10. Goss, Scott (December 4, 2018). "Shake-up in Auditor's Office may not be last twist in prolonged drama". The News Journal.
  11. Hayes, Kevin (November 7, 2018). "First Dem in 28 years, 1st woman ever, McGuiness defeats Spadola for state auditor". WDEL 1150 AM.
  12. "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Office of the State Election Commissioner. Dover, Delaware: Delaware Department of Elections. November 6, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  13. "McGuiness sworn in as auditor of accounts". Cape Gazette. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  14. Goss, Scott. "State Auditor Tom Wagner not seeking re-election amid health concerns". The News Journal.
  15. "State Auditor McGuiness indicted". Cape Gazette. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  16. Wilson, Xerxes; Gamard, Sarah. "Delaware state Auditor Kathy McGuiness indicted on 2 felony charges". The News Journal.
  17. Chase, Randall (October 11, 2021). "Delaware State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness accused of nepotism, fraud, witness intimidation". 6abc Philadelphia. Associated Press.
  18. "Delaware State Auditor McGuiness Turns Self in, Pleads Not Guilty to All Charges". WBOC. October 12, 2021.
  19. Gamard, Sarah; Wilson, Xerxes. "Trial date set for Delaware auditor corruption trial; lawmakers punt on removal for now". The News Journal.
  20. "GUILTY: State Auditor Kathy McGuiness convicted on three of five charges". July 2022.
  21. "Delaware auditor dodges felony charges, guilty of misconduct". The Washington Post.
  22. Chase, Randall (August 31, 2022). "Judge Upholds 2 of Delaware Auditor Kathy McGuiness' 3 Convictions". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  23. Eichmann, Mark (October 20, 2022). "Delaware's new interim auditor is a throwback, Dennis Greenhouse first held the seat in 1982". WHYY. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
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