Santa Monica mayor resigns, heads to Sacramento

Richard Bloom leads Assemblywoman Betsy Butler by 1,705 votes in this afternoon's essentially final update on the Nov. 6 election from LA County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan. The final tally pending the official report of election results:

Bloom posted this note on Facebook Sunday morning:

I just tendered my resignation as Santa Monica Mayor and Councilmember effective 11:59 a.m. on Monday. I'll be sworn in as Assemblymember at noon on Monday and couldn't bear leaving my post a minute sooner. My service to the people of Santa Monica, on the Coastal Commission, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, Santa Monica Conservancy and Westside Cities Council of Governments has been a labor of love and has enriched my life more than I ever imagined. Thank you to the people of Santa Monica for giving me the opportunity to serve in these important roles and thank you to the people of the 50th Assembly District for entrusting me with the awesome responsibilities that I will now undertake.