Running for judge, prosecutor fined for political activity

A former Philadelphia prosecutor who is running for judge has agreed to pay a $300 ethics fine for raising money for her campaign while working for the city.

Deborah Watson-Stokes, a lawyer in the District Attorney's Office from 1990 to February 2015, admitted she violated the City Charter by soliciting campaign funds and taking part in political activity on the job. On Thursday, she settled an Ethics Board complaint against her by agreeing to pay the fine.

City rules prohibit most employees from fund-raising or taking part in political activity on the job.

Watson-Stokes officially submitted her resignation Jan. 15 but continued to work in the District Attorney's Office until Feb. 6, the day when she had scheduled a joint retirement party and fund-raiser for her judicial campaign, the Ethics Board found.

She is running for a seat on both Municipal Court and Common Pleas Court in the May 19 primary.

Fliers for the event at St. Maron Hall in South Philadelphia, requesting $40 donations, started circulating while she was still working for the city, according to the settlement.

Also while Watson-Stokes was on the city payroll, the Ethics Board found, she submitted a candidate's questionnaire to the Philadelphia Bar Association, which rates candidates for judicial office. She was later rated "recommended."

The Board of Ethics, an independent panel with five members, investigated Watson-Stokes after receiving a complaint about her on-the-job political activity.

In the settlement, Watson-Stokes agreed with the board's conclusion that she violated two sections of the charter - one dealing with soliciting funds and another dealing with participating in political activity.

Typically, each violation carries a $300 fine, but since Watson-Stokes cooperated with the board, it agreed to reduce each fine to $150.

She could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Watson-Stokes, 53, of West Philadelphia, most recently worked as a homicide prosecutor, according to her campaign website.

Cameron Kline, a representative for District Attorney Seth Williams' office, declined to comment Thursday.