After repeated calls for resignation and a federal investigation into his businesses, Sacramento City Council Member Sean Loloee announced on Thursday that he will resign. Loloee, who represents District 2, in a YouTube video blamed Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, accusing him of creating a “politically motivated circus” to distract people from his shortcomings.”I love this city and my district too much to let the mayor use my situation as a distraction,” Loloee said.Watch his full resignation video here.”I think he made the right decision,” Steinberg said in a news conference hours after Loloee announced his resignation.In late December, Steinberg and several other council members called for Loloee to resign. That came days after a grand jury indicted Loloee on 25 counts of conspiracy, obstruction and use of false immigration documents in connection with his Viva Supermarket chain.”Serious criminal charges involving alleged fraud and obstruction create a cloud, not only over Mr. Loloee, but the city itself. These serious criminal charges are simply incompatible with continuing in public office,” Steinberg said. Loloee pleaded not guilty to the charges on Dec. 15. He is also being charged with pandemic relief fraud.Mayor Steinberg said his focus now is filling the District 2 city council seat. He said he wants to meet with the city council and the city attorney within the next few days to discuss the issue.Steinberg suggested that the city wait until after the March 5 primary election. Several candidates are vying for the District 2 seat in that race, and Steinberg said if one of them gets a majority of the vote in March, that could be the answer the council is looking for.”If that were the case, and if a candidate were to win outright, I would recommend strongly to my colleagues that we appoint that individual the following week,” Steinberg said. “If no candidate wins a majority in March, and there is a runoff, I would recommend appointing a caretaker to the seat.”Steinberg said that caretaker would represent District 2 until after the November election.Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Mai Vang, who represents District 8, sent KCRA 3 the following statement regarding Loloee’s resignation:“I want to thank Mayor Steinberg for his leadership in handling the difficult situation with District 2. The majority of council supported his call for a resignation because the neighborhoods of District 2 deserves nothing but the very best. I support the Mayor’s recommendation for appointing a successor and look forward to next steps to ensure we can restore trust and integrity back in our local institutions.”KCRA 3 reached out to all other members of the city council as well but did not hear back as of Thursday night.Karla Montoya, 42, who is the general manager of Viva Supermarket, was also accused of crimes in the indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. The indictment was unsealed in December.Court documents claim that since 2008, Loloee and Montoya employed a “significant number of workers” who weren’t authorized to work in the United States.| FIND MORE DETAILS | Federal docs: Sean Loloee accused of destroying evidence related to his Sacramento grocery stores
After repeated calls for resignation and a federal investigation into his businesses, Sacramento City Council Member Sean Loloee announced on Thursday that he will resign.
Loloee, who represents District 2, in a YouTube video blamed Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, accusing him of creating a “politically motivated circus” to distract people from his shortcomings.
“I love this city and my district too much to let the mayor use my situation as a distraction,” Loloee said.
Watch his full resignation video here.
“I think he made the right decision,” Steinberg said in a news conference hours after Loloee announced his resignation.
In late December, Steinberg and several other council members called for Loloee to resign. That came days after a grand jury indicted Loloee on 25 counts of conspiracy, obstruction and use of false immigration documents in connection with his Viva Supermarket chain.
“Serious criminal charges involving alleged fraud and obstruction create a cloud, not only over Mr. Loloee, but the city itself. These serious criminal charges are simply incompatible with continuing in public office,” Steinberg said.
Loloee pleaded not guilty to the charges on Dec. 15. He is also being charged with pandemic relief fraud.
Mayor Steinberg said his focus now is filling the District 2 city council seat. He said he wants to meet with the city council and the city attorney within the next few days to discuss the issue.
Steinberg suggested that the city wait until after the March 5 primary election. Several candidates are vying for the District 2 seat in that race, and Steinberg said if one of them gets a majority of the vote in March, that could be the answer the council is looking for.
“If that were the case, and if a candidate were to win outright, I would recommend strongly to my colleagues that we appoint that individual the following week,” Steinberg said. “If no candidate wins a majority in March, and there is a runoff, I would recommend appointing a caretaker to the seat.”
Steinberg said that caretaker would represent District 2 until after the November election.
Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem Mai Vang, who represents District 8, sent KCRA 3 the following statement regarding Loloee’s resignation:
“I want to thank Mayor Steinberg for his leadership in handling the difficult situation with District 2. The majority of council supported his call for a resignation because the neighborhoods of District 2 deserves nothing but the very best. I support the Mayor’s recommendation for appointing a successor and look forward to next steps to ensure we can restore trust and integrity back in our local institutions.”
KCRA 3 reached out to all other members of the city council as well but did not hear back as of Thursday night.
Karla Montoya, 42, who is the general manager of Viva Supermarket, was also accused of crimes in the indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. The indictment was unsealed in December.
Court documents claim that since 2008, Loloee and Montoya employed a “significant number of workers” who weren’t authorized to work in the United States.
| FIND MORE DETAILS | Federal docs: Sean Loloee accused of destroying evidence related to his Sacramento grocery stores
