Calls Mount For Stockton Mayor To Resign Amid Strip Poker Allegations
STOCKTON (CBS13) — A day after his arrest, more members of the Stockton City Council are calling for Mayor Anthony Silva's resignation.
Silva was arrested on Thursday, accused of a felony and several misdemeanors after investigators say a recording of a strip poker game involving an underage male emerged from his cellphone.
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City Councilman Michael Blower joined the calls for Silva to step aside three months before the election.
Blower says he's embarrassed by all the drama, all the attention taking place in the city of Stockton.
"It's just another black eye for the city of Stockton," he said.
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Blower has been a Stockton resident all his life. He says it's a city that has always struggled to improve its reputation, and now this.
"I feel that enough is enough," he said.
Blower says the recent headlines concerning Mayor Silva are not helping Stockton's image.
"Last week it was a controversy with guns that were stolen and used in a murder. This week an arrest," he said.
He says the recent allegations of providing alcohol to minors and recording a game of strip poker at Silver Lake hits too close to home.
"The allegations are shocking," Blower said. "I'm the father of two daughters in the thought of sending them off to camp; you need to be able to trust the people."
Blower says in light of the alleged bad decisions Silva has made, now it's time for him to make the right one.
"I think what's best for the city of Stockton is for him to immediately resign and let the city heal from this and let us move on," he said.
This longtime businessman believes Silva's decisions are keeping new business from coming into Stockton.
"As the leader, as the mayor it's incumbent upon him to live above reproach. And time and again he has shown poor judgment and poor leadership and I think it has hurt the city," he said.
