Chula Vista Port Commissioner Michael Najera is likely to find out tonight whether he has the confidence of the city he represents. That's when the Chula Vista City Council is scheduled to talk about whether Najera should keep his job. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma explains.
Najera's tenure is up for discussion after Mayor Cheryl Cox reportedly told him last week she wanted him to quit because she was unhappy with inertia on developing Chula Vista's bayfront. Port rules say a commissioner can be ousted by a majority council vote. But Najera's lawyer Joe Casas says case law contradicts that. He also says there had been no hint until last week that anyone at city hall was unhappy with Najera's position on the port.
"Then it begs the question, what's the basis for his removal? And that would lend itself to an answer of political whim which is disturbing because under the law that's unacceptable …it does not rise to the level of just cause," he says.
The Chula Vista mayor did not answer requests for interviews.