Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz is also now a former Mayor Pro Tem of Huntington Beach.
Ortiz resigned from his position on the Huntington Beach city council after under six months in office, having been elected to the position in November of last year.
Tito Ortiz announces his resignation from the Huntington Beach City Council. pic.twitter.com/vVzsLNf9zu
— Oscar Willis (@oscarswillis) June 2, 2021
“From day one, I was sworn in and I was met with hostility and judgment. Being a public figure, nothing is new. However, to be the sole focus of character assassination each and every week, with multiple news stories and leaked personal information… all of which were in hopes to slander and defame my name. I thought I was up to this job, but I knew I had over 40,000 constituents who were there counting on me. As of recent, the attacks against me moved to involve my family. I now feel their safety is in danger. To put it simply, this job isn’t working for me.”
Ortiz’s time in office was often controversial, with his stances against social distancing and the use of masks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic prompting some council members to seek a vote of no-confidence just four months after his election. Last month, Ortiz also reportedly filed for unemployment benefits despite still being employed by the city at the time.
