Huntington Beach Councilman Resigns

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA-Dave Garofalo, this beach community’s most controversial city councilman, has resigned amid allegations that he improperly voted dozens of times on real estate-related issues and other matters that would affect his own finances.

In a one-page letter submitted to the City Clerk, Garofalo says he needs to “spend more time on personal issues” and that he could “best do this as a private citizen.” The rest of the City Council now has until Feb. 24 to appoint a successor or call for a special election.

Garofalo’s resignation, however, will not end months-long investigations by both the City Attorney and the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission that are focusing on the councilman’s voting record. The City Attorney has said Garofalo may have improperly voted more than 40 times on issues that would effect advertising revenue at his local publishing business.

Calls to Garofalo’s office on Thursday weren’t returned. However, no charges have been filed against him and he has repeatedly said that none of his votes were improper.