City Council Censures Mayor, Replaces Him
The city’s 25-year-old mayor, Edward Rodarte, was stripped of his ceremonial title by council colleagues Tuesday night and Councilwoman Sally Holguin Fallon was sworn into the office.
The City Council’s vote to oust Rodarte came after it censured him for allegedly making threatening comments to a female employee after she complained about having to proofread a brochure for Rodarte’s business.
The censure stemmed from a city investigation into allegations of abuse of power against the young mayor that found that he had threatened the employee with the loss of her job.
“I am doing this with a very heavy heart,” said Holguin Fallon, who also noted that the staff of County Supervisor Gloria Molina had complained about the young, energetic mayor’s attitude.
Rodarte, who was elected to the council in March 1997, contends that the brochure incident was a casual conversation about literature for his nuisance abatement firm. He said “petty politics” and personal dislike of him motivated the council.
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