The brief but dramatic tenure of Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz has come to an end. The MMA fighter turned politician offered his resignation from the City Council Tuesday, citing constant “hostility and judgment” that he says has left him fearing for his family’s safety.
Ortiz has undoubtedly faced an onslaught of criticism since his election in November — almost all of it self-inflicted. Ortiz has encouraged residents to break public health rules, refused to wear masks at city meetings, and accused Democrats of orchestrating a White Lives Matter rally. He came under scrutiny last month after it was revealed that he’d filed for unemployment benefits despite maintaining regular employment by the city.
In his announcement, Ortiz said “city employees and/or elected officials may have colluded with local activists to disclose my confidential information to the OC Register as part of an ongoing character assassination campaign against me,” apparently referring to the EDD benefits story.
Read more about his resignation at the LA Times and Voice of OC.