The Rocky show

WELL, IT TOOK more than a week, but City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo finally succumbed to ridicule Monday and admitted that it was his wife who crashed his city car in 2004. Delgadillo performed the requisite maneuvers: He apologized, admitted to bad judgment and poor oversight of family and public matters and pledged to regain the public’s trust. So, having launched “Rocky Watch” in this space just Monday, we will stand down today and let the city attorney return to work.

That said, Delgadillo’s admissions and promises hardly create a sense of confidence. He concedes that he did not tend to the paperwork after his city car was damaged. He acknowledges that city policy may preclude the use of public cars by spouses -- though, curiously, he declines to offer any public legal advice to other officials whose spouses might be inclined to take their SUVs for a spin. He repaid the city the $1,222 that he says the repair actually cost, but he did so nearly three years after the fact. He sheepishly concedes that he should have faced up to these questions a week ago.

And even as Delgadillo bowed to the journalistic pack he spent last week brushing off, he laced his defense with some of the sanctimony that is regrettably part of his trademark. Why does he have a security detail? “I take on some pretty unsavory folks in this town.” Why did he reimburse the city? “Because it was the right thing to do.” How hard will he work to regain the public’s trust? “I’m going to work my hardest every day.” You get the picture.

Delgadillo answered the question that gave rise to “Rocky Watch.” He has not, however, established an inspiring record of candor or competence. “Rocky Watch” drops from these pages today; watching Rocky continues.