Hews Media Group-Community News has exclusively learned that longtime Hawaiian Gardens City Manager Ernesto Marquez has been forced to resign his position from the tiny city in southeastern Los Angeles County.
Sources are telling that Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Barry Bruce and City Councilman Rey Rodriguez are behind the removal and have plans to “basically take over the city.”
Mr. Bruce ramped up his takeover plan in December when sources said he was overheard several times at City Hall asking Mr. Marquez “if he had found another job yet.”
They also told us that Mr. Bruce was heard saying, “I will hire a city manager who will do anything I ask.”
Knowing Mr. Marquez was resigning today, Mr. Bruce set his plan into motion by sending out a public meeting notice yesterday calling for a 3:30 meeting today.
We have confirmed that Messrs. Bruce and Rodriguez want to hire convicted felon and former Hawaiian Gardens Police Chief Walter C. McKinney as the city manager.
With that hiring, Mr. Bruce is all set to finally cancel the city’s contract with the L.A. County Sheriff’s and establish his own police department, further cementing his grip on the city.
The Bruce-Rodriguez plan was set in motion after the election in 2015. Sources are telling us there was a quid pro quo between Mr. Bruce and Mr. Rodriguez — force Mr. Marquez to resign and obtain the majority vote to hire Mr. McKinney.
No confirmation on who would be the third vote to hire Mr. McKinney, but given the situation, the deciding vote will likely be cast by newly elected Councilman Hank Trimble.
Many in Hawaiian Gardens are wondering why this is taking place in their city, especially the hiring of Mr. McKinney.
They are also calling on the L.A. County District Attorney to investigate Brown Act violations by Mr. Bruce during the quid pro quo meetings.
In 1998 Mr. McKinney was charged with perjury and filing a false police report while chief of police for Hawaiian Gardens.
Months later he was convicted of a felony and served 500 hours of community service, which lowered the conviction to a misdemeanor.
Mr. McKinney also was general manager of a company called Affordable Housing Solutions Group that was sued by the city of Hercules, 16 miles north of Berkeley, for breach of fiduciary duty and conflict of interest.
Mr. McKinney denied involvement, but his name appeared on numerous city contracts as the general manager.
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net
You go Bruce and Ray Finely I can see a light. And a positive direction for the future of a city whose care takers have matain a strangle hold in order to increase their deep pockets. Now if you can get rid of the crooks in community development?