LOS ALAMITOS -- Los Alamitos Mayor Dean Grose resigned from the City Council Monday after widespread criticism that began when he forwarded an e-mail that showed the White House lawn covered with watermelons.
The e-mail, which Grose says was sent as a joke, bore the headline "No Easter egg hunt this year."
"For the love of my community, and the health and well-being of my family, I am submitting my resignation as a council member," Grose wrote in a letter sent Monday to Interim City Manager Nita McKay and other council members.
Grose had initially said he would resign only from the ceremonial mayor post, but he planned to retain his council seat. Instead, he has opted to step down from the council.
Grose sent the e-mail from his personal account to community volunteer Keyanus Price, a black woman who said she found it racist and offensive.
"I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes," Price told The Associated Press.
"I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on."
Grose apologized to Price, her boss and the City Council. He said he did not send the drawing to hurt or offend anybody -- that he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.
A smashed watermelon was found outside of Grose's business Wednesday, but it did not cause any damage.
Grose was elected to the council in 2006. He was chosen by the council in January to serve a one-year term as mayor.
The e-mail garnered national media interest after it was first reported by The Orange County Register Tuesday night and prompted current and former city officials to defend the city, who say they don't condone perpetuating stereotypes associated with race, ethnicity, gender and religion.
The e-mail, which Grose says was sent as a joke, bore the headline "No Easter egg hunt this year."
"For the love of my community, and the health and well-being of my family, I am submitting my resignation as a council member," Grose wrote in a letter sent Monday to Interim City Manager Nita McKay and other council members.
Grose had initially said he would resign only from the ceremonial mayor post, but he planned to retain his council seat. Instead, he has opted to step down from the council.
Grose sent the e-mail from his personal account to community volunteer Keyanus Price, a black woman who said she found it racist and offensive.
"I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes," Price told The Associated Press.
"I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city-freakin'-mayor - come on."
Grose apologized to Price, her boss and the City Council. He said he did not send the drawing to hurt or offend anybody -- that he was unaware of the racial stereotype that black people like watermelons.
A smashed watermelon was found outside of Grose's business Wednesday, but it did not cause any damage.
Grose was elected to the council in 2006. He was chosen by the council in January to serve a one-year term as mayor.
The e-mail garnered national media interest after it was first reported by The Orange County Register Tuesday night and prompted current and former city officials to defend the city, who say they don't condone perpetuating stereotypes associated with race, ethnicity, gender and religion.
