Councilwoman resigns from council

Citing potential “distractions” stemming from her arrest on suspicion

of cocaine possession and child endangerment, City Councilwoman

Stacey Murphy resigned from the City Council Tuesday, ending a more

than eight-year run on the dais and setting the stage for a special

election to fill her seat.

In a letter addressed to City Manager Mary Alvord, Murphy said it

was with a heavy heart that she was stepping down from the council.

“This is not an easy decision for me personally, however, for the

best interests of our city, and my children, it is the right thing to

do,” she wrote.

“Our council has many important issues facing it at this time,”

Murphy continued. “The distractions caused by my personal issues

should not be a factor that the council should have to deal with.”

Alvord read the letter at the beginning of Tuesday’s City Council

meeting.

Murphy, 47, who was reelected in February to a third term that

expires in 2009, also thanked residents for their “support,

compassion, and carrying comments during this period.”

Attempts to reach Murphy were not successful.

Murphy was charged Aug. 23 by the Los Angeles County District

Attorney’s Office with misdemeanor child endangerment and felony

possession of cocaine. She pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug.

25 in Pasadena Superior Court.

She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to

appear in court again on Sept. 28.

Mayor Jef Vander Borght expressed sadness over Murphy’s

resignation and said the council would miss her.

“I recognize that she has to do what is best for her and her

family,” Vander Borght said before Tuesday’s meeting. “I wish her

well with her case.”

The three other council members -- Marsha Ramos, Todd Campbell and

Dave Golonski -- did not comment on the matter during the meeting.

Vander Borght was confident that council business could continue

with only four members, but a special election to fill Murphy’s seat

is on the horizon.

The city charter requires that a special election take place to

fill Murphy’s seat.

First, the council will have to declare Murphy’s seat to be

vacant, which is expected to take place at the Sept. 13 meeting. A

call for an election could come then, with an election required to

follow within 120 days, City Clerk Margarita Campos said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the council continued the city’s business as

it has for the past six weeks -- with only four members participating

and Murphy’s seat empty at the far left side of the dais.

The former mayor was arrested July 13 after police found cocaine,

three handguns -- registered to her boyfriend, Glendale resident

Scott Schaffer -- and 900 rounds of ammunition in her Burbank home on

Lima Street, where she lives with her 12-year-old son.

Schaffer’s alleged involvement with the Vineland Boyz street gang

led investigators to Murphy. Her arrest came the same day Schaffer,

51, was taken into federal custody after police found a Vineland Boyz

gang member in possession of a handgun registered to Schaffer, which

was not reported stolen.

Schaffer has been released on $1-million bond and is now living at

a drug treatment facility. He awaits an Oct. 25 trial date and is

accused of trading handguns to the gang members in exchange for

cocaine.

If convicted, Murphy could face three years in state prison.

Mark Barton, a Murphy supporter, expressed shock upon hearing that

Murphy stepped down.

“She said she’s not guilty, so why resign if she isn’t?” Barton

said. “I think there is more distraction by not showing up. This is

too bad.”

* MARK MADLER covers City Hall and the courts. He may be reached

at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at mark.madlerlatimes.com.