Cooley calls on Noguez to resign as Assessor

Los Angeles County's elected tax assessor, John Noguez, should resign, District Attorney Steve Cooley told a gaggle of reporters today. It goes further than his pretty harsh comments yesterday about the investigation into the assessor's alleged dealings with campaign donors and clients of consultants who sell their ability to get property tax bills lowered.

"I don't think he should be there,'' Cooley is reported saying. "In my view, he should resign in light of everything that's come out publicly and because it's interfering with the discharge of that important office's critical functions.

"And I think that a change over there is entirely appropriate so that some changes in
personnel and other reforms can be implemented to restore the integrity of the
organization.''

Cooley said yesterday that his office would be seeking indictments and referred to Noguez as the top target of the corruption investigation.

Photo of John Noguez