Why did Tito Ortiz resign? Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem faced 'hostility and judgment' from day one
Controversial Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Tito Ortiz has resigned from his position, citing a series of public attacks on his character and fear for the safety of his family. Ortiz officially resigned from his post on the Huntington Beach City Council and as the mayor pro tem on June 1, according to the OC Register’s Susan Golding. The UFC Hall of Famer cited leaks at City Hall and "character assassination" by the media as the reasons for his resignation, though it’s not quite clear what he is referring to. “To put it simply, this job isn’t working for me,” Ortiz is heard saying in a video posted on Twitter.
In the video, Ortiz, who is anti-mask, cited his family and children’s safety as one of the deciding factors as well as being targeted in the press. “From day one, I was sworn in and I was met with hostility and judgment. Being a public figure nothing is new, however, to be the sole focus of character assassination each and every week, with multiple news stories, and leaked personal information, all of which were in hopes to slander and defame my name. I thought it was up to this job,” he said.
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Ortiz said that he took this decision on behalf of his family. His two sons recently made headlines when they were sent back home from school because they arrived without wearing face masks, as required of all students and teachers at Ocean View School District schools. In public appearances and on social media, Ortiz has repeatedly criticized masks as ineffective and dangerous, while referring to Covid-19 safety measures as a conspiracy. “As of recent, the attacks against me have moved into involving my family,” Ortiz said Tuesday, adding, “When my children’s safety becomes a matter, I’m a father and I’m going to protect my children.”
According to Voice of OC, in a phone interview on Tuesday, June 1 night during the meeting recess, City Manager Oliver Chi confirmed that Ortiz resigned from his position. When asked how Ortiz’s vacant council seat will be filled, Chi said: “We’re trying to get that all figured out. We’ll have more, I think, to share tomorrow.” According to a last-minute agenda, council members will reconvene in a special meeting on June 2 to appoint a new mayor pro tem, a largely ceremonial role he held for the city.
Ortiz’s short role in the public office, always remained controversial, almost from the very beginning. As last year, when tried to attend a planning meeting at a Huntington Beach library days after he was elected in November 2020, he wasn’t let in because he refused to wear a mask. He then attended the meeting from his car, as his anti-mask stance was part of his campaign. His anti-mask dispute continued for months both in the public meetings and around town. Ortiz was voted as the mayor pro tem the day he was sworn into office, though other council members tried to vote him out with a vote of no confidence.
On February 20, 2021, Ortiz once again landed himself in controversy, when he filed for unemployment though he was still in office and being paid for that part-time position. As per reports, Ortiz owns two businesses and lives in a lavish $4 million house. Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr believes that Ortiz may have committed fraud with this claim. Ortiz holds a 21-12-1 MMA record and his last fight happened 9 years back for the UFC in 2012, the same year when he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.