Nathan Cooper

The guilty pleas by Nathan Cooper to two federal felony charges came as quite a surprise and disappointment to those inside and outside the political sphere.

As a young state representative from Cape Girardeau, Cooper had only recently shown a great deal of pride in legislative efforts to which he contributed that have cut the costs of state government operations by millions of dollars. Nothing rings truer with taxpaying voters than to hear that something is being done about government efficiency.

And nothing rings more hollow than the words of an elected official whose actions undermine the principles of honesty and fair play.

Cooper, whose professional career as a lawyer involved representing clients through the maze of immigration and naturalization, pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from visa fraud and a charge of lying to the U.S. Department of Labor.

In a probe that began months ago, Cooper -- to his credit -- cooperated with federal officials. At the same time, his political activities continued, including some last-minute maneuvering with donations that he had raised only recently -- starkly illustrating the two sides of Cooper.

Cooper's resignation as state representative from the 158th District has caused Republican and Democratic local leaders to scramble for candidates to fill the unexpired term. It will be up to the governor to call a special election, and several individuals have expressed some interest in running for the vacant seat.

In the wake of his guilty pleas, Cooper is likely to be sentenced to nearly three years in a federal penitentiary. His promising career as a lawyer has evaporated. He will no longer be contributing to the legislative process as an elected official. Both of these are tremendous losses personally and to the voters and supporters who put their trust in him.

Looking to the future, there is every reason to believe that decent and honorable individuals will be seeking a seat in the Missouri House with only the noblest intentions of serving the best interests of their constituents.