Member Of Powerful California Coastal Panel Resigns

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wendy Mitchell, a member of the California Coastal Commission who supported the controversial ouster of the agency's executive director earlier this year, has resigned.

The Los Angeles Times reports (http://lat.ms/2hEaup1 ) Mitchell sent a resignation letter Friday to Gov. Jerry Brown, saying she would step down immediately after six years on the powerful panel.

Commissioners are decision-makers for the land use agency, which oversees 1,100 miles of coastline.

Mitchell, a government affairs consultant and former legislative aide, was one of seven commissioners who voted in February to fire Executive Director Charles Lester, a 24-year veteran of the agency.

Mitchell and other panel members accused him of unspecified management issues and leadership problems. They declined to comment in detail because personnel matters are confidential.

Mitchell could not be reached for comment Friday.

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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/