Los Angeles mayoral candidate Joe Buscaino announced Tuesday he is stepping down as the president pro tem of the City Council. The decision came just as some of Buscaino’s colleagues were preparing to try and oust him from the post.
Facing a motion calling for him to be removed as pro tem on Oct. 1, Buscaino issued a statement saying he was leaving the mostly ceremonial role "as is the long-held tradition of giving up council leadership when running for another office." His announcement narrowly beat out the proposed removal by less than two weeks.
Fernando Guerra, a professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University, told KNX the timing of the announcement is no coincidence.
"Oh no, not at all. It’s one of those I-quit-before-you-can-fire-me situations," he said.
While it is the norm for council members to give up leadership roles when running for higher office, Guerra said Buscaino may have invited the removal motion by stepping on his colleagues' toes. For example, by going into other council members' districts to call for a tougher approach to the homelessness crisis.
“He's alienated several members,” according to Guerra.
A statement by Council President Nury Martinez, who presented the removal motion, could be read as proof of Guerra’s argument.
She said, “The time has come for Joe to run his race for mayor and I will continue to focus on leading ...this council without distraction."