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California

Former Vernon mayor resigns

By Hector Becerra
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More than half a century after becoming a councilman in the industrial city his grandfather founded, former Vernon Mayor Leonis Malburg quietly resigned his political seat this week.

The city of about 90 residents sued the 80-year-old Malburg last month, alleging that he improperly had Vernon pay nearly $1.5 million for his legal defense against criminal voter fraud charges leveled against him two years ago by Los Angeles County prosecutors

Malburg spent 35 years as mayor of Vernon before being replaced in April.

“It is with great regret that I am submitting this resignation,” Malburg wrote in his resignation letter to the city Monday. Prosecutors allege that Malburg, his wife and son committed fraud by voting and taking elected office in Vernon while not living there. His son, John Malburg, 40, pleaded no contest earlier this year to the charges.

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Leonis Malburg, who could go to trial this fall, could not be reached for comment.

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hector.becerra@latimes.com

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Hector Becerra

Hector Becerra is managing editor of the Los Angeles Times. A native Angeleno who grew up in Boyle Heights, Becerra’s first foray into journalism was as the editor of the University Times at Cal State Los Angeles. He started his career at the Los Angeles Times in 1999 and was a general assignment reporter until 2014, covering everything from wildfires to crime to Latino cultural trends. He has been among the first to a murder scene as part of a ride-along in South L.A. and has tried his hand as a field worker, picking strawberries in Santa Maria. Becerra was part of the team of reporters that won the Pulitzer Prize’s Public Service award for its coverage of the city of Bell corruption scandal. He was city editor for the California section until 2022, when he was promoted to deputy managing editor. He was named managing editor in 2024.

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