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Mike Najera, Chula Vista’s representative on the Port Commission, resigned today from the volunteer post, less than two weeks after saying he’d been pressured to quit by Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox.
Najera said Cox’s request had come after holding a fundraiser for her political opponent, Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Castaneda.
In a resignation letter, sent by his attorney, Joseph Casas, Najera said he will not sue the city over the flap. He wrote:
I feel strongly that my legal position was strong. However, I have determined that a protracted legal battle against my beloved hometown is not in my best interests, and more importantly it’s not in the best interests of Chula Vista’s taxpayers, since they are the ones that would have to foot the legal bill.
I am going to stay away from the blame game and focus on the positive experience, the great Commissioners and staff I worked with at the Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista and look forward to serving my community again in other capacities. After all this I am still the hard working, former laborer and defensive lineman who played football at Marian (Mater Dei) and Southwestern College. I am confident that under President Obama we will find the will and the right port projects for our bay front. We thought we had it with Gaylord, but the economics were not there due to transportation improvement costs (among other competing factors).
Given all due consideration, for now I have decided that it is my best interest to resign from the port commission and concentrate my efforts on several exciting new business ventures. My resignation is effective today, May 15, 2009. I have enjoyed serving my community and wish my successor well. I thank the people of Chula Vista and those who appointed me to serve in this voluntary position.