Three aides to LA mayor resign, shake-up called normal

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 3/26/04 | AP - Los Angeles

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Mayor James K. Hahn announced the resignations of the three top aides, including a deputy mayor at the center of a so-called pay-to-play controversy. Hahn said Thursday that Deputy Mayors Troy Edwards, Sarah Dusseault and Joy Chen quit their jobs.

Edwards, a key fund-raiser for Hahn's 2001 election campaign and his airports and harbor departments liaison, will leave April 9. He was subpoenaed to testify by a county grand jury investigating corruption in city contracting practices, the Daily News reported Friday.

"Troy has been a longtime key adviser to me," Hahn said in a statement that didn't mention the criminal investigation.

Hahn chief of staff Tim McOsker said the departures were part of a normal change in a political office.

"What you see are three individuals who are leaving for separate reasons," McOsker said. "You will find, in offices like this, that people are working hard and find themselves at a point where they need to take a break."

Dusseault, paid $99,900 annually to oversee housing issues, and Chen, paid $104,800 a year to coordinate the city's work force and educational efforts, will also leave next month.

Edwards' departure was anticipated because of the criminal probe.

"What the mayor obviously wanted to do was include it with other changes so it would not be dragged out," political consultant Joe Cerrell said. "And the timing is important to do this now and get it out of the way so it is not an election issue next year."

Edwards, 37, of Burbank said his decision to resign had nothing to do with the inquiries.

"I was called specifically as a witness and told I am not a subject or a target of the investigation. I just felt, after five years straight, this was a good time for me to take a break and look around at different opportunities," he said.

Edwards will not receive severance pay from his $104,800-a-year post.

[John Jorsett]

"What you see are three individuals who are leaving for separate reasons," McOsker said. "You will find, in offices like this, that people are working hard and find themselves at a point where they need to take a break."

I think in PR speak, this is called "attempting to put a shine on a t**d."