Michael Zucchet

Michael Zucchet
Acting Mayor of San Diego
In office July 15, 2005–July 18, 2005
Preceded by	Dick Murphy
Succeeded by	Toni Atkins (acting)
Personal details
Born	December 24, 1969 (1969-12-24) (age 41) San Diego, California
Nationality	American
Political party	Democrat
Spouse(s)	Teresa (?-?)
Children	2
Residence	Ocean Beach, San Diego, California
Alma mater	University of California, Santa Barbara Duke University

Michael J. Zucchet (December 24, 1969–) is a San Diego-born American Democratic politician, a former member of the San Diego City Council, and a former Deputy Mayor of San Diego. In 2005, he briefly served as the Acting Mayor of San Diego.

Biography

Zucchet earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master's degree in Environmental Economics and Policy from Duke University.

He worked as a renewable energy economist with the Energy Information Administration of the United States Department of Energy in Washington, DC, then returned to San Diego in 1996 to work as a City Council aide to council-member Valerie Stallings. From 1998 through 2002, he served as the legislative and community affairs director for the San Diego City Fire Fighters.

Zucchet has also done work with the non-profit Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara while in college. He has served as president of the San Diego League of Conservation Voters, vice-president of the Pacific Beach Town Council, been elected member of the Pacific Beach Community Planning Committee, and appointed member of the city's Select Committee on Government Efficiency and Fiscal Reform. He is a graduate of LEAD San Diego.

Michael Zucchet served as a San Diego city council-member representing the city's Second District from November 2002 to July 2005.

Zucchet worked at the Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN) as a Project Manager in 2006. He is now (2009) the general manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association, the union that represents city workers.^[1]

He lives in Ocean Beach, San Diego with his wife Teresa and his daughter and son.

Corruption scandal

Zucchet became acting Mayor after Dick Murphy resigned July 15, 2005. But three days later, he too resigned after he was convicted in U.S. District Court of one count of conspiracy, five counts of wire fraud and three counts of extortion. This was in connection with a scheme involving fellow City Councilman Ralph Inzunza to get the city's "no touch" laws at strip clubs repealed.^[2]

On November 10, 2005, citing lack of evidence, a judge overturned the convictions against Zucchet. He acquitted Zucchet on seven of the original nine charges and ordered a new trial on the remaining two indictments. The convictions against two co-defendants were upheld.

On September 1, 2009, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Zucchet's acquittals. In the decision,^[3] the Court emphasized the lack of evidence against Zucchet.

The remaining two charges against him were finally dropped in 2010.^[4]

References

1. ^ San Diego Union Tribune, December 10, 2009
2. ^ Greg Moran and Kelly Thornton (July 19, 2005). "Councilmen Guilty". San Diego Union-Tribune. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=10B7E53625734BA8&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111040622315622760&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
3. ^ www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/09/01/05-50902.pdf
4. ^ Greg Moran (October 14, 2010). "Seven Years Later, Zucchet Cleared". San Diego Union-Tribune. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=132E15958E125350&p_docnum=3&s_dlid=DL0111040622192220299&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2025%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=sdubsub&s_accountid=AC0110122214325408110&s_upgradeable=no. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 

See also

List of California public officials charged with crimes, San Diego

External links

• http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/probe/20051110-2036-acquittal.html
• http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/probe/20050718-1527-bn18trial5.html
• http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/07/07/news/sandiego/20_18_557_6_05.txt
• http://genesis.sannet.gov/infospc/templates/cd2/about.jsp
• http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/01/14/housing/897elcortez011408.txt
• http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/01/17/news/01elcortez011708.txt
• http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/01/bn01appeal112312/
• http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/09/01/05-50902.pdf

Political offices
Preceded by Dick Murphy	Acting Mayor of San Diego, California 2005	Succeeded by Toni Atkins (acting)

Persondata
Name	Zuchett, Michael
Alternative names
Short description	Mayor of San Diego
Date of birth	December 24, 1969
Place of birth	San Diego, California
Date of death
Place of death