The word tonight is that after only one term National City Mayor Nick Inzunza will not seek re-election in November, likely ending the career of the guy considered only a few weeks ago as the front runner to succeed Juan Vargas in the state assembly.
To partially recap, the Union-Tribune in mid-December published the results of a months-long investigation into Inzunza’s several slum-like properties. I conjectured in a prior post that the U-T’s surprising but rightful use of resources to pursue such a story was the result of Nick being the brother of convicted former San Diego Councilman Ralph Inzunza
of stripper-gate fame.
Within days of the U-T revelations about Nick the slum lord, the paper also caught him in a bald-faced lie about the ownership of the properties. In the last several weeks, Nick has resigned from several boards. As reported in the U-T:
"He resigned from the San Diego Foundation’s Charitable Real Estate Board on Nov. 22, the same day he was interviewed…about his real estate holdings.
"On Dec. 21, a week after the story ran, Inzunza withdrew from the board of Seacoast Commerce Bank, a community bank in Chula Vista, where he had served for about two years.
"That same week, Inzunza asked…the city clerk for National City, to publish a notice in a small local newspaper asking for applicants to serve out ‘an unexpired term’ ending in March 2008 as the city’s representative on the San Diego County Water Authority."
Two days ago, it was reported that Inzunza would no longer pursue the 79th state assembly seat, which he has long coveted. This morning, the U-T added that the Mayor is not living up to his commitment to correct deficiencies at his properties.
Tomorrow, the papers should be reporting on the final stake being driven into his heart, with Nick’s decision to not seek re-election, rather than be crucified at the polls in November.
So ends the short but tragic story of the Brothers Inzunza, as well as the local dynasty of South Bay’s leading political family.