Oakland mayor resigns

Oakland Mayor Nanci Staples has decided to resign from her position rather than complete her term that ends this year.

Staples lost her run for re-election against City Councilor Bette Keehley, who will become mayor in January. In her resignation letter, Staples said she is not bitter about being replaced but instead is relieved.

“It is due to the character of our present council and their questionable governing techniques that I feel I cannot continue in my position as mayor and am stepping down immediately,” she said in the letter. “I refuse to continue to subject my integrity and my ethics to any part of the farce/charade and subversive activity that continues to exist in this council.”

Keehley is currently council president and normally runs the City Council meetings when the mayor is absent. Keehley will likely continue to run the meetings as council president until she takes over as mayor, City Recorder Barb Mock said.