Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien will find out if he will be convicted of influence peddling when a judge delivers his verdict Wednesday morning.
O'Brien is on trial for two charges relating to accusations he encouraged fellow mayoral candidate Terry Kilrea to drop out of the 2006 municipal race in exchange for a federal appointment with the National Parole Board.
O'Brien will learn his fate when Justice Douglas Cunningham delivers his verdict at 10 a.m.
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O'Brien has been on a leave of absence from the mayor's chair for the course of the trial.
If the judge declares him innocent, O'Brien can return to office immediately. If found guilty, he would not be permitted to return to his job and a lengthy appeal process would likely begin.
The Ontario Municipal Elections Act states municipal politicians convicted of corruption or breaking the law in an election campaign must vacate office. Convicted politicians are also banned from running again for six years.
City councillors and staff were abuzz with speculation about the verdict on Tuesday.
"Myself, personally, I hope that he's found not guilty," said Coun. Doug Thompson.
"If there is a conviction, I don't know many politicians who've survived that," added Coun. Rick Chiarelli.
City councillors were briefed Tuesday on how to deal with the possibility of a guilty verdict.
Council would either select a replacement to fill the city's top job for the remainder of O'Brien's term; or hold a by-election to elect a new mayor.
If a by-election is called, there would be 60 days to receive nominations followed by 45 days until the vote. A by-election would likely cost about $5 million.
Although both charges carry maximum five-year prison terms, observers say it is unlikely O'Brien would go to jail if convicted.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Norman Fetterley
