Posted on 06/28/2006 8:18:07 AM PDT by SmithL
Gonzales, defying calls to step down as mayor of the Bay Area's largest city, faces the unique position of chairing a meeting today in which the City Council will explore removing him from office or politically isolating him if he won't resign.
Responding to council members' questions about their authority to limit the mayor's powers, City Attorney Richard Doyle wrote that the council probably can't oust Gonzales from office or remove him as chair of City Council meetings.
But it can move the mayor's seat at the dais, revoke his city-issued credit card, slash his travel funds, reduce his office budget and cut his pay, Doyle wrote.
The mayor's office has about 20 employees and a budget of more than $1 million, Gonzales spokesman David Vossbrink said.
The city charter would allow the council to cut Gonzales' salary from about $105,000 to the $75,000 council members make annually, but the council could not lower his $350 monthly car allowance unless it did so for all council members, Doyle wrote.
The council also does not have the power under the city charter to fire Gonzales' budget and policy director, Joe Guerra -- who also is under indictment -- or the mayor's public information officer, the city attorney said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
No party affiliation mentioned...No doubt a Rat?
It's hard not to think of San Jose as a rube filled backwater. That's how we looked at it growing up. Weird that now it is the Bay Area's largest city.
One can dream that they would give him his own little two-foot-high table and chair like you have for the kids at Thanksgiving.
Removal is just not written into the rules. No doubt that will be changed before too long (but too late for this case).
to SmithL: yep he's a Dim. Local news wouldn't report it because it's effectively a given here.
And why should he be...at least ahead of the time proscribed for removal from office. Those advocating his forced, early removal play a very dangerous game. Convictions should be the cause for removal, not accusations. Otherwise, you end up with a ton of turmoil, prosecutors run-amok bringing up charges for only political means.
No doubt!
Most elections in the Bay Area are Dem vs. Dem. They sling mud at each other by calling their opponents "Republicans." No Fooling. During the last mayoral election in San Francisco, Matt Gonzales (no relation to SJ's Ron Gonzales) called Gavin "Any Twosome" Newsom a Republican for not being liberal enough.
Yup, Ron was seen as a real rising star not so long ago.
Gee, I wonder why Nancy Pelosi and the dems aren't by his side now? (They are in spirit,a spirit of corruption,lol)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.