‘You Wish It Had Never Happened’ : Mayor’s One-Year Jail Sentence Stuns Rivals, Supporters

Political rivals and supporters of former Mayor Roger Hedgecock were stunned Tuesday at the one-year jail sentence imposed on Hedgecock by Superior Court Judge William L. Todd Jr., and expressed regret over the end of a once-promising political career.

While both sides raised concern for Hedgecock and his family, one of the former mayor’s most bitter political enemies appeared anguished by the sentence. Ed Struiksma, who as the city’s deputy mayor will assume Hedgecock’s duties, sat in his office with several reporters and watched the courtroom proceedings on television.

Struiksma was clearly shaken by the sentence and said it was difficult to watch Hedgecock and his family’s “political life, their business, their fortunes dissolve before you . . . You wish it had never happened in the first place.”

Murray Galinson, president of the San Diego National Bank and a longtime Hedgecock supporter, called the sentence “a tremendous waste of taxpayers’ money.” Earlier this year, after Hedgecock’s first trial ended in a mistrial, Galinson joined with two other influential San Diegans in an attempt to negotiate a plea bargain between Hedgecock and Dist. Atty. Edwin Miller.

“Jail is supposed to serve one of two purposes: One is rehabilitation, and I think it’s clear the mayor does not need to be rehabilitated,” Galinson said. “The second is punishment, and there certainly has been punishment enough. He’s basically losing his ticket to practice law, and he’s resigned from office.”

Hedgecock, 39, may be forced to give up his law license if his conviction on 13 felonies is upheld on appeal. He resigned from office an hour before he was sentenced.

No Comfort From Miller

Miller, who was accused by Hedgecock’s supporters of launching a political vendetta against the former mayor, had no conciliatory words for his political rival. Calling Hedgecock “a dishonest mayor,” Miller expressed some disappointment that he was sentenced to County Jail instead of three years in state prison, as the district attorney’s office recommended.

“I think it was a state prison case . . . (but) I would say that a year in jail would serve justice,” Miller said.

Two other local politicians expressed hope that some form of stability can return to City Hall now that Hedgecock has resigned. County Supervisor Susan Golding called for the City Council to appoint a mayor to finish the three years remaining in Hedgecock’s term.

“I believe in the electoral process and have the people select who they want, but at the same time I’d like to see some stability. . . . Give the city some stability for a short period of time . . . by an appointment,” said Golding, a former city councilwoman.

Councilwoman Gloria McColl, who coincidentally was serving on jury duty in the same courthouse where Hedgecock’s fate was being decided Tuesday, said she was glad that Hedgecock was finally sentenced, ending the most debilitating political crisis to hit the city in decades.

“For the City of San Diego, I’m glad a decision has been made,” McColl said. “This is a wonderful city, and the brightness and shininess of it can now be brought forward, whereas we had this cloud hanging over it. Roger’s problems are still ongoing, but hopefully we can sever the city from the problems of Roger the man.”

Times staff writers Armando Acuna, Ralph Frammolino and Janny Scott contributed to this story.