Azusa : City Administrator Quits

Lloyd Wood, who has served as both city administrator and police chief for three years, has resigned as city administrator, effective on a date to be set by the City Council at its meeting Monday.

Asked why he is quitting, Wood replied: “Politics, politics, politics. It’s too much. I can’t adjust to the politics involved in city government.”

Wood, 47, said he plans to remain as police chief indefinitely. Currently earning $85,000 a year, Wood said he will give up about $20,000 a year to return to the Police Department full time.

The city has been in political turmoil for years, with deep divisions between the mayor and some council members. Wood said constant charges and counter-charges, smear letters and allegations circulating in the community have forced him to spend much of his day chasing down rumors that are “just flat lies.”

He said the city’s political situation “is not stabilizing and I can’t seem to help it stabilize.”

Wood said “it’s up to the council” to set the date for him to leave the top administrative post. He said the council could make his resignation effective immediately or could ask him to remain until a successor is chosen.