Sheila Dixon charges could chill business climate

The hint of Mayor Sheila Dixon’s alleged impropriety with a city developer could dampen the city’s business environment and could represent a breach of commonly accepted business ethics, several ethics experts told The Examiner on Tuesday.

Dixon is charged with 12 counts of felony theft, perjury, fraud and misconduct in office on suspicion of failing to disclose gifts from developer and ex-boyfriend Ron Lipscomb and of misusing gift cards donated to her office by developers and intended for needy families. Lipscomb, president of Doracon Contracting Inc., is also charged with bribing a public official.