Gardena Councilman Oscar Medrano resigns

By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer
Article Launched: 03/13/2008 01:27:47 AM PDT

Oscar Medrano has resigned from the Gardena City Council, citing health issues that have restricted his ability to work.

Medrano, who was elected in March 2007 for his second four-year term, has been absent from most council meetings since July, when back surgery limited his movement and left him in severe pain.

He did not attend Tuesday's meeting, instead announcing his resignation in a letter to the council.

"Due to the ongoing, unpredictable health problems that I'm experiencing, it has become very apparent to me that I am no longer able to serve in my current council member capacity," Medrano wrote.

Medrano, 47, has struggled with degenerative disc disease for three years.

In 2005, halfway through his first term, Medrano underwent back surgery to replace three degenerated vertebrae in his lower back. Four months later, the implants disintegrated and Medrano had to wear special shoes and a back brace. Last year, he had spinal fusion surgery to stabilize his lower spine. The surgery was successful, but Medrano said it left him in constant, severe pain.

He took morphine and other sedatives to dull the pain, but the medicine made him groggy, and he found it difficult to work.

"I still have trouble sitting too long and standing too long," Medrano said. "When I lie down, it's a constant pain. I've been trying not to go back on narcotics. I'll have to live with this the rest of my life. I've gotten closer to my maker, you could say."

At Tuesday's meeting, Councilman Steve Bradford said he is disappointed that Medrano was forced to resign.

"He brought a very homespun, common-sense approach," Bradford said. "His service will be truly missed. But the most important thing is his health and the challenges he faces with his back."

State law dictates that the City Council must decide how to replace Medrano by April 9. The council can either appoint a successor, or hold a special election for voters to decide. If the council appoints someone, that person would serve until the March 2009 election. If the voters decide, the replacement will serve out Medrano's term until 2011.

Medrano has managed his family's business, Osmar Jewelry in downtown Gardena, since 1992. He said he plans to sell the business because he can no longer work.

He recently bought a home in Romoland, which is near Sun City in Riverside County, where he will move with his wife and two youngest children. He has five children.

Before he managed the family business, Medrano worked as an X-ray technician until 1982. From 1982 to 1986, he served in the Army.

"I never thought I would leave Gardena," said Medrano, whose family moved to the city from New York in 1964. "It's too expensive. (In Romoland) I won't spend as much money. Land and housing is cheaper."

On the dais, Medrano has been a proponent for small-business owners in the city. He said he is most proud of being on the council when the city's $26 million debt was resolved in 2006 with a payment plan that has allowed the city to generate a budget surplus.

He said he is also proud that he voted to approve the first new General Plan in the city in 30 years. The plan, adopted in April 2006, lays out a vision to bring more commercial business to the city, and to add mixed-use development along the city's major arteries.

City Manager Mitch Lansdell said Medrano will be difficult to replace.

"Councilman Medrano was a local businessman. He was in the community for a long time," Lansdell said. "He certainly brought to the council a businessman's perspective. That perspective is going to be difficult to replace because, if we look back, the City Council has not had a lot of local business owners."

But Medrano also has faced controversy during his tenure.

In 2003, he was criticized for backing the city's efforts to form a Redevelopment Agency after he had campaigned against such a move.

More recently, he was accused of holding secret meetings with the city's residential and commercial trash haulers in January 2007.
According to the commercial hauler, Waste Resources of Gardena, Medrano solicited illegal campaign contributions. Medrano said the accusations are untrue.

"I'm a Christian; I don't do those things," Medrano said. "It was more humiliation for my family. My kids don't want to hear bad things about their father in school."

Though his time on the council has been bittersweet, Medrano said he is sad to leave.
"I'm going to miss everybody. They've become my second family - employees, city staff," Medrano said. "I really want to thank the people of Gardena for putting their trust in me and electing me."

WHAT'S NEXT
State law dictates that the City Council must decide by April 9 how to replace Oscar Medrano. The council can appoint a successor who would serve until the March 2009 election, or hold a special election for voters to decide, and the replacement would serve out Medrano's term until 2011.