The mayor of Vernon submitted his resignation Monday, following criticism from a state senator who accused the City Council of acting in a secretive way.
Mayor Hilario “Larry” Gonzales was one of three council members who voted to promote Vernon’s interim city attorney Oct. 18 without placing the item on the meeting agenda. State Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) assailed the council members for the move last week, calling it “an egregious violation” of their recent commitment to operate in a more transparent way.
Gonzales submitted a letter to the city on Monday, saying he would resign as soon as his pension payments were confirmed by CalPERS.
“He’s 82 years old and he’s tired of the battles,” said former interim City Atty. Michael Montgomery, who confirmed Gonzales’ resignation.
Gonzales had served on the City Council since 1974, when he was appointed to fill a vacant seat. He and other Vernon councilmen have enjoyed among the highest salaries in the state in recent years, and also approved annual compensation of over $500,000 for several of the city’s top administrators. Three different Vernon officials have been convicted of public corruption since 2006, including Gonzales’ predecessor, Leonis Malburg.
Earlier this year Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) introduced legislation that would have disbanded Vernon, which has only about 100 residents but over 1,800 business, and made it a part of Los Angeles County.
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