Indicted former county executive files for K.C. mayor

? A day after being indicted on federal charges of taking part in a mortgage fraud scheme, former Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields filed to run for Kansas City mayor.

In announcing her bid Friday, Shields defended herself against the federal charges, calling them a “political witch-hunt conducted by the local U.S. attorney’s office” intended “to create maximum embarrassment for me.”

A grand jury charged Shields, 60, and her husband, attorney Philip Cardarella, 59, and nine other people Thursday with one count each of conspiracy and 11 counts each of wire fraud.

Federal prosecutors allege that the couple were approached by a group of individuals last fall who offered to sell their home, which was listed at $699,950, for $1.2 million.

The two were to receive more than $700,000, the remainder being split among other co-defendants and explained to lenders as a “management fee.” To get the mortgage approved, the defendants allegedly provided lenders with fraudulent financial information and inflated property appraisals.

Officials said the FBI stopped the transaction from going through.

“Never have my husband nor I misrepresented anything about this transaction to anyone – and the prosecutor knows that,” Shields said in a written statement.

The three-term county executive outlined plans to promote environmental leadership, fiscal responsibility and maintenance to the city’s roads and infrastructure during her campaign for city office.

She also wants to improve mental health and public safety and continue downtown redevelopment.