Jun 28, 2008 12:52 am US/Pacific
Embattled Oakland City Administrator Out Of Job
OAKLAND (CBS 5 / KCBS / BCN) ―
Deborah Edgerly's five-year reign as Oakland City Administrator came to an abrupt end Friday when Mayor Ron Dellums placed the embattled official on administrative leave, effectively immediately.
The move came just days after Dellums and Edgerly held a City Hall news conference saying she would be staying on until retirement next month.
The 56-year old Edgerly has been under fire since allegations surfaced that she tried to protect her nephew, a reputed member of the notorious Acorn gang, from a massive gang crackdown by police last week.
Dellums didn't say what prompted him to force her out the door immediately, but City Hall sources said she refused to sign a document drawn up by the City Attorney's office to remove her control over the Police Department.
In a letter sent Friday to Edgerly, Dellums expressed his desire to bring closure to the matter. The mayor had faced criticism for allowing Edgerly to stay in office despite the seriousness of the allegations — including reports that her nephew may have tipped off fellow gang members to the impending police raids.
Dellums wrote to Edgerly in the letter released by his office that "going on administrative leave is in your best interest and the best interest of the city."
"The last two weeks have been extremely difficult for you, for me, and for the entire city of Oakland," Dellums' letter continued, "as we are in the throes of complex and difficult matters."
The mayor added, "I did not want to have to exercise this option knowing that given the present environment people would interpret this as a judgment of guilt. I have assiduously stood in a posture of non-judgment, but delay in this matter will only further inflame this situation."
"I have come to this decision reluctantly," wrote Dellums.
Edgerly, a 20-year employee of the city, will remain on leave and collect her paycheck until July 31 — at which time she will retire from her position as previously announced.
The mayor appointed Dan Lindheim as Acting City Administrator effective immediately. Lindheim had served as director of Oakland Community and Economic Development.
Law enforcement officials are investigating Edgerly's conduct late on the night of June 7, when she asked Oakland police officers why they were towing a car belonging to William Lovan, a 27-year-old meter repairman for the city of Oakland who is Edgerly's nephew.
Lovan, who lives in Concord and was convicted in 2000 on a felony charge of possessing assault weapons, was arrested last week on charges of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and carrying an unregistered loaded weapon.
He's free on $100,000 bail and continues to work for the city.
Reacting to Dellums' decision Friday, City Attorney John Russo said, "Given the circumstances, and given the nature of the allegations confronting Mrs. Edgerly, placing her on administrative leave is the simplest and most legally prudent course for the city to follow."
City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente said he welcomes Dellums' announcement but he thinks "it should have happened last week after the allegations against her first surfaced. That would have been in the best interests of both the city and Deborah Edgerly."
De La Fuente said he also planned to introduce an ordinance aimed at cracking down at nepotism in the hiring of city employees, as Edgerly has many relatives who work for city government.
Former Mayor Jerry Brown hired Edgerly to be Oakland's interim city manager on July 2, 2003, one day after he fired Robert Bobb.
Edgerly later became permanent city manager and then became city administrator in 2004 when the city changed its form of government and that became the top job in the city.
Edgerly told reporters when she was sworn in, "I'm not really interested in the permanent job" as city manager.
Edgerly couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
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