Adam Bradley Steps Down As Mayor Of White Plains
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The embattled mayor of White Plains resigned Friday afternoon.
Bradley has been under pressure to step down for months. During his first year in office, he was twice arrested on domestic violence charges involving his wife, Fumiko.
"I can no longer allow the circumstances of my personal life to be a distraction" from the city's needs, the 49-year-old Democrat said at a City Hall news conference.
Common Councilmember tells WCBS 880 Reporter Catherine Cioffi this will give White Plains a "fresh start."
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Bradley did not mention his wife. A call to her lawyer, Neal Comer, was not immediately returned.
The mayor was to be succeeded at 11:59 p.m. by Tom Roach, president of the city's Common Council, chief of staff John Callahan said.
Bradley said a special election would be held later this year.
Bradley, who has been pressured to resign by many residents and politicians, said he was not acknowledging guilt.
Rather, he said, he needed time to focus on "exonerating my name and reputation."
"It is my hope that at the end of this judicial process, the truth will come out," the mayor said.
Bradley, a former state Assemblyman who took office in January 2010, was convicted in December of attempted assault, harassment and criminal contempt. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 17.
His wife had alleged that the mayor slammed her fingers in a door and threw hot tea at her. The criminal contempt charge was for violating an order of protection. The mayor said his wife made up the allegations.
The Bradleys, who are divorcing, have two young daughters.
On the day he was convicted, Bradley ignored his lawyer's suggestion not to speak when reporters asked if he would resign.
"Of course I'm not going to step down," he said.
When he won the election for mayor, Bradley was considered a politician on the rise. But he was in just his second month as mayor when he was arrested.
White Plains, a city of about 60,000, is the Westchester County seat and a major office and retail center 22 miles north of Manhattan.
Bradley took credit Friday for what he said was the reversal of the city's job and business losses.
"I am proud of my record as mayor and I will always stand by it," he said.
Please stay with CBSNewYork.com for more on this developing story.
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