Wakefield – For those willing to believe the worst about Massachusetts’ politicians, the events of this past year have only confirmed their fears.

Anytime an elected official is charged with improper conduct, it tends to cast a cloud of suspicion over all elected officials. Unfortunately, with two sitting State Senators forced to resign and two House members facing investigations, 2008 provided no shortage of embarrassing moments for members of the Legislature.

In June, state Sen. James Marzilli was arrested in Lowell and subsequently charged with sexually accosting four women. After initially announcing he would not seek re-election, Marzilli continued to draw a taxpayer-funded paycheck for months before he finally bowed to public pressure and resigned.