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Anaheim's city manager resigns amid renewed scrutiny into special interests
Jim Vanderpool, former Anaheim city manager, at an Anaheim City Council meeting.
(
Gary Coronado
/
Los Angeles Times
)
Topline:
Anaheim officials announced Tuesday that City Manager Jim Vanderpool has resigned. The resignation comes after weeks of scrutiny into Vanderpool’s ties to special interests in the city.
How we got here: Vanderpool’s resignation came to light after a Daily Pilot report revealed that he did not disclose a trip with former Anaheim Chamber of Commerce officials to Lake Havasu in 2020. The trip took place just before the council voted on the sale of the Angels stadium deal and prompted the current City Council to discuss his future at the helm of O.C.'s biggest city last week. The Fair Political Practices Commission, the state’s campaign finance watchdog agency, is also currently investigating Vanderpool under the Political Reform Act.
The context: The stadium sale fell apart after a federal investigation revealed then-Mayor Harry Sidhu was sharing “city-specific information” with the Angels’ owners to use against the city in negotiations. The investigation also revealed an overly friendly relationship between Sidhu and Todd Ament, the former CEO of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. According to prosecutors, Ament was the ringleader of a “cabal” of leaders, including politicians and business leaders, who exerted influence over the city.
What's next: Greg Garcia, who served as Vanderpool's deputy, will serve as the acting city manager.
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