San Diego's Mayor Murphy Resigns

San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy announced he will resign July 15, just seven months into his second term. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mayor Murphy said:

"A good leader knows when it is time to move on," Murphy said at a press conference. "It is time to move, and time for a fresh start for the city."

Murphy was re-elected in November by 2,108 votes, narrowly overcoming a strong write-in campaign by Councilwoman Donna Frye.

The Associated Press reports that San Diego's pension system has a nearly $1.4 billion deficit and is at the heart of investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. attorney and FBI into city finances, possible public corruption and securities fraud:

The city's outside auditor, KPMG, has warned it cannot complete its audit of the city's 2003 books until an investigation is launched into whether city officials committed illegal acts. The lack of complete audits for 2003 and 2004, coupled with the ongoing investigations, has hobbled the city's ability to issue bonds, putting vital water and sewer projects on hold and threatening library and fire station construction. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has suspended the city's credit rating.

According to the Associated Press, Murphy has clashed with the newly elected city attorney, Michael Aguirre, who has called for the mayor's resignation and issued a scathing report that found Murphy and the City Council violated federal securities laws by hiding key information about city finances.

Last week, Murphy was called one of the country's three-worst big-city mayors by Time magazine, which said the mayor was "discredited" by the city's pension fund crisis.

The San Diego Union Tribune reports that Deputy Mayor Michael Zucchet would serve as acting mayor until the vacancy is filled, but Zucchet goes on trial May 3 on federal corruption charges. The City Council can either appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Murphy's term through 2008 or call a special election. Frye said today she'll run again if a special election is held.

Can you say Mayor Frye?

UPDATE: At The Indepundent, Smash posts that if Deputy Mayor Zucchet's trial is not over by July 15, or if Zucchet is convicted, the City Council is likely select one of their own to fill the mayor's seat until the special election is held.

Comments

[Steve Francis]

This City Council has been a disgrace to our City - they should apologize for the mess they have gotten us in.

They are cutting neighborhood programs instead of cutting their own budget. If the City Council cut their budget by 20 percent, it would pay for 21 6 to 6 after school programs - so far they have cut 37.

Unlike the other major candidates, who have spent years at City Hall, I'm an outsider. I'll stand up to the unions who control this City Council and roll back their illegal and extravagant pensions.

I'll also cut the City Hall bureaucracy by 10 percent, increase efficiency and stop the structural deficit of the City Council over spending year after year.

Check out my detailed plan at www.stevesplan.com

[Franklin]

Correction: Hedgecock was not put back in; his conviction was withdrawn, the charges reduced to a misdemeanor and dismissed per 1203.4 pc. No convicted felon there.

[Marc]

Shades of Roger Hedgecock.

And based on the San Deigo electorate, they would probably re-elect Mayor Murphy in the future providing he's not in jail.

After all they put Hedgecock back in after he was a convicted felon.