Ex-Animal Services Chief Files Appeal

The fired Animal Services Department director filed an appeal Wednesday with the Los Angeles City Council, charging that the mayor terminated him to reduce the “political noise” of animal rights extremists, not based on his performance.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa denied Guerdon H. Stuckey’s charge. “I removed Mr. Stuckey because he wasn’t up to the job,” he said Wednesday.

The city clerk said the appeal will be on the agenda for the council’s next meeting, Jan. 10. Stuckey can argue the matter before the council; 10 votes of the 15-member council are needed to reinstate him.

Council President Alex Padilla said he would expect the council to listen to the appeal, but several colleagues said they probably would not vote to overturn the mayor’s decision.

“The mayor is vested with the responsibility for department heads,” Councilman Bill Rosendahl said. “The mayor has made a decision. I support the mayor.”

The five-page appeal said Stuckey accepted the job a year ago based on assurances by a top deputy for then-Mayor James K. Hahn that he could keep the job as long as he performed.

He said Villaraigosa never questioned his performance.

“At no time has Mr. Stuckey been reprimanded in any fashion and, in fact, he has been repeatedly complimented for his job performance,” the appeal said.

He listed two pages of accomplishments, including a 15.6% decrease in the last year in animals being put to death and a 22.3% increase in participants in a spay and neuter voucher program.

In his first interview since the firing, Stuckey said that when Deputy Mayor Jimmie Blackman asked for his resignation two weeks ago, Blackman said the reason for his removal was not based on his performance.

The ousted official could not recall the exact wording, but paraphrased Blackman: “He said the removal is being sought to address the political noise of the activists. It concerned me greatly.”

Villaraigosa disputed that. “My staff was continually and regularly discussing with him our concerns, goals and his deficiencies,” the mayor said.

Stuckey questioned whether Villaraigosa fairly considered his tenure, given that the mayor, when a councilman, voted in November 2004 to confirm Stuckey’s appointment but during the mayoral campaign told animal rights activists he would fire him.

“It demonstrates it was probably premature, and it would have been better to articulate that he would judge me on my performance and make a decision on the merits,” Stuckey said.

Stuckey also said the decision to fire him after animal rights extremists engaged in threats and vandalism has caused the public to perceive that the mayor capitulated to extremists.

However, many animal rights activists who did not threaten city workers or vandalize property have also been advising the mayor to dump Stuckey, said Michael Bell of the Coalition for a Humane Los Angeles.

Bell described Stuckey as “useless,” adding, “The mayor gave him every opportunity to bring this department around, and he didn’t.”

Edward Lear, an attorney for Stuckey, said he would like to be able to compel the mayor to testify in any appeal hearing before the council, but City Clerk Frank Martinez said no such powers are granted. The council, however, can ask people to address it on the matter.

None of the council members questioned said they are willing to commit to vote for reinstatement. Councilman Bernard C. Parks said he told the mayor’s office it should take care of the matter so it doesn’t become a public spectacle.

Stuckey confirmed that he has asked for a severance package in the event the council declines to reinstate him. His request includes 11 months’ salary with medical and dental coverage, and relocation expenses, or about $155,000.

He said he deserves some severance because he feared for his life while head of the department. Stuckey received threats, and someone set off smoke grenades in the hallway of his Bunker Hill apartment tower.

“I put my life on the line for the city,” he said. “My first meeting as general manager was with the LAPD, which said my life was at risk and I was a high-profile target.”

Villaraigosa, whose office offered Stuckey two weeks’ salary as severance, said he opposes the former manager’s larger request. “I’ve obviously made a determination on that item, which is no,” the mayor said.

Rosendahl also believes Stuckey’s demand is excessive.

“I don’t think a year’s severance is deserved by a person who has been here a year. It’s nothing against him personally,” Rosendahl said.

Stuckey is not ruling out a lawsuit, if the council does not reinstate him or approve a severance package, Lear said.