Here at The Sunlight Foundation we focus our attention at the federal government, in particular Congress, and the many officials, members, staffers, and hangers-on who engage in dubious, if not criminal, behavior. In doing this we often overlook some of the better corruption stories from across the nation. Today we have an Arkansas mayor who solicited sex from two women after they fell behind on their water bills:

Troy Anderson, 72, is accused of abusing the public trust and patronizing a prostitute. After hearing complaints about delinquent water bills, Anderson solicited sex from the women, authorities said.

In January, a woman who said she had refused Anderson’s requests went to the mayor for help in getting her granddaughter out of state Department of Health and Human Services custody. The mayor told the woman he might be able to help, and that she should meet him at an apartment, the affidavit said. … Another woman told investigators that she’d been having sex with Anderson for money for the past eight to 10 years. She said Anderson paid her $25 per encounter and that he allowed her to change the name on her overdue water bill, which kept her water turned on, the affidavit said.

The mayor also gave the woman $60 to pay a late water deposit in exchange for sex, the affidavit said. The woman’s bill was $617 overdue, the affidavit said.

It looks like Mayor Anderson is running for the Honorary Marion Barry Award.