Dellums Gives Edgerly the Old Heave-Ho

Mayor of Oakland Ron Dellums placed City Administrator Deborah Edgerly
on administrative leave today following allegations that she interfered
with the arrest of a relative.
Photo by Luke Thomas

By Jeff Shuttleworth

June 27, 2008

Deborah Edgerly’s five-year reign as Oakland’s top administrator came to an abrupt end today when Mayor Ron Dellums placed her on administrative leave, effectively immediately.

Edgerly has been under fire since it was revealed last week that she may have interfered with the arrest of a relative who is reputed to be a member of the Acorn drug gang, which was the subject of a massive police raid last week.

Dellums and Edgerly, 56, who’s worked for the city for 22 years, announced at a joint news conference in the mayor’s office on Tuesday that she will retire on July 31.

Dellums didn’t say what prompted him to force her out the door immediately, but City Hall sources said she refused to sign a document drawn up by the City Attorney’s office to remove her control over the Police Department.

Dellums said he has appointed Dan Lindheim, a close mayor adviser who heads the city’s community and economic development agency, as Acting City Administrator effective immediately.

Law enforcement officials are investigating Edgerly’s conduct late on the night of June 7, when she asked Oakland police officers why they were towing a car belonging to William Lovan, a 27-year-old meter repairman for the city of Oakland who is Edgerly’s nephew.

Lovan, who lives in Concord and was convicted in 2000 on a felony charge of possessing assault weapons, was arrested last week on charges of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle and carrying an unregistered loaded weapon.

He’s free on $100,000 bail and continues to work for the city.

Dellums said to Edgerly in a letter released by his office that on Thursday “we collectively agreed that going on administrative leave is in your best interest and the best interest of the city.”

Dellums said, “While I understand you wanted to get back to me by Monday, these matters are too significant to the well-being of Oakland going forward, as a result I feel compelled to bring closure to this matter.”

Dellums said, “The last two weeks have been extremely difficult for you, for me, and for the entire city of Oakland” and “we are in the throes of complex and difficult matters.”

The mayor added, “I did not want to have to exercise this option knowing that given the present environment people would interpret this as a judgment of guilt. I have assiduously stood in a posture of non-judgment, but delay in this matter will only further inflame this situation.”

Reacting to Dellums’ announcement, City Attorney John Russo said, “Given the circumstances, and given the nature of the allegations confronting Mrs. Edgerly, placing her on administrative leave is the simplest and most legally prudent course for the city to follow.”

City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente said he welcomes Dellums’ announcement but he thinks “it should have happened last week” after the allegations against her first surfaced.”

De La Fuente said, “That would have been in the best interests of both the city and Deborah Edgerly.”

De La Fuente said the City Council will meet with Russo to receive a full briefing on matters involving Edgerly. He said he hopes Dellums also will attend.

De La Fuente said he also will introduce at committee meetings next week two items that are prompted by the allegations against Edgerly.

One item is an ordinance aimed at cracking down at nepotism in the hiring of city employees, as Edgerly has many relatives who work for city government.

De La Fuente said the other item is to call for an audit of personnel hiring in the past 18 months.

Former Mayor Jerry Brown hired Edgerly to be Oakland’s interim city manager on July 2, 2003, one day after he fired Robert Bobb.

Edgerly later became permanent city manager and then became city administrator in 2004 when the city changed its form of government and that became the top job in the city.

Edgerly told reporters when she was sworn in, “I’m not really interested in the permanent job” as city manager.

Edgerly couldn’t be reached for comment today.

FCJ Editor

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