Lee Alexander (politician)

Lee Alexander (May 18, 1927 – December 25, 1996) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Syracuse, New York for 16 years.

Alexander was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate in 1974.

He was elected as mayor of Syracuse in 1970; he served as mayor until 1985. He was generally well liked by the academic and non-profit community and served as the president of the United States Conference of Mayors.

On July 16, 1987, Alexander was indicted in Federal District Court in Syracuse on 40 counts of extortion, income tax evasion, racketeering and conspiracy. In January 1988, Alexander pleaded guilty to racketeering and extortion, conspiracy to obstruct the Government's investigation and income-tax evasion on at least $1.2 million in bribes and kickbacks. As part of a plea bargain, he agreed to serve 10 years in prison and pay a $100,000 fine. Alexander spent nearly six years in jail for his crimes and was released from prison in 1994.

Alexander died at his home of cancer on December 25, 1996.

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