SoCal Pol Quits Bullet Train Authority

The Southern California politician who served as mayor of Anaheim while also serving as chairman of the state High Speed Rail Authority has quit the latter board.

The state's $43 billion high speed rail system may yet be built someday, and it may yet take passengers to Southern California. But it'll do so with a new boss.

A seasoned SoCal politician who served as mayor of Anaheim while also chairman of the state High Speed Rail Authority has resigned, according to reports. Curt Pringle, whose political career also includes a stint as Speaker of the state Assembly, had been on the board for 4 1/2 years and was the leader of the authority for two years until last month, according to the Contra Costa Times.

Pringle was probed by the state attorney general's office for a conflict of interest, for serving simultaneously as both chair of the rail authority, mayor of Anaheim, and as a member of an Orange County transportation board. A state investigation concluded that he should not have served the posts at the same time, but Pringle stayed on as chair of the rail authority after his term as Anaheim mayor ended last December.

Gov. Jerry Brown will appoint a new member to the rail board, which has policy and financial sway over the bullet train line from the Bay Area to LA, construction on which could begin as early as next year.
 

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