SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - A special election will be held in November to fill the unexpired term of a former northeastern Pennsylvania mayor who resigned and pleaded guilty to charges that he shook down businesses for bribes and campaign contributions.

The (Scranton) Times-Tribune reports that Scranton council members decided Tuesday that a temporary mayor will be appointed by the end of the month, but that person won’t be able to run in the Nov. 5 election.

Former Scranton mayor Bill Courtright resigned last week and pleaded guilty in federal court to bribery, extortion and conspiracy. His term as mayor of the city of 78,000 runs through 2021.

Courtright was the third Democratic mayor in eastern Pennsylvania convicted of public corruption in about 16 months. Former Allentown and Reading mayors are serving prison terms.

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Information from: The Times-Tribune, http://thetimes-tribune.com/

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