Last Updated on November 24, 2017 by C-CAR
Nearly a year after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of methamphetamine, Mike Spence was confirmed this week as the new mayor of West Covina.
He didn’t exactly sail into the new role. The City Council on Tuesday considered skipping him, but the motion to change the succession order failed when it didn’t reach the needed four votes. Spence abstained from the vote. Outgoing Mayor Corey Warshaw voted no on the motion.
“This is a ceremonial and a symbolic position,” Warshaw said, adding that he saw no reason to bypass Spence in the rotation. “The people of West Coivna elected all five of us. If they want some kind of change, they can make that change.”
Spence, who served as mayor pro tem — a position that steps in when the mayor is not available — this past year, was convicted of a misdemeanor DUI in connection following a solo car crash that landed him in the hospital with serious injuries in June 2016.
Toxicology reports revealed Spence had methamphetamine in his system when he crashed his rental car into a utility pole in Covina, according to authorities. He was sentenced to three years probation last December.
Since the incident, Spence, who was elected in 2013, has spoken publicly about his struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. Last year, when some council members and residents spoke against his confirmation as mayor pro tem, he gave an emotional speech, saying he has not let his problems with addiction affect his work for the city.
He also served as chief of staff for San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman until he was fired a year ago.
On Tuesday, Spence talked briefly about going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and encouraged others to not let public shaming “discourage you from getting help.”
Councilman James Toma, who made the motion to skip Spence in the mayoral rotation, said his issue with Spence becoming mayor was one of principles and values.
“Do we value the rule of law? If a police officer had done some of the conduct that was at issue here and was being promoted to captain, what would somebody think of that,” Toma said, adding that being mayor is a privilege — not a right.
“Do we feel that we are special or entitled to certain positions because of who we are?” he asked.
Also per the succession order, Councilman Lloyd Johnson, who was elected in 2015, was confirmed as mayor pro tem for the next year.
