Bay Area city manager resigns after bizarre yacht arrest, mental health crisis
The onetime city manager of a wealthy San Francisco suburb has resigned from her role less than two months after she was arrested following a bizarre incident aboard a yacht at the city’s marina.Ex-Sausalito city manager Elaine Forbes, 53, remains in treatment and her condition is improving, family spokesperson Sam Singer told The California Post on Wednesday.“Resigning was important so she could focus on her mental wellbeing,” Singer said.Forbes’ departure brings an abrupt end to her short tenure running the Marin County city.She was arrested in July after authorities said she boarded multiple vessels at Sausalito Yacht Harbor.Mayor Steven Woodside announced Forbes’ resignation Monday, saying the city had accepted it and she was no longer employed.“Our hearts are with Elaine and her family, and we stand behind her as she takes this time to focus on her health and healing,” Woodside said.The City Council unanimously agreed in closed session to appoint Brandon Phipps as interim city manager for six months.
The city expects to conduct a recruitment for a permanent replacement after the November election.Forbes had been on the job for only about three weeks when authorities arrested her July 18 after she allegedly boarded several boats, including a large yacht, at the Sausalito marina.Authorities said Forbes was found aboard the yacht around dawn after its horn began blaring.Investigators alleged she initially claimed the vessel belonged to her before its owner confirmed she did not have permission to be aboard.
She was initially booked on suspicion of felony burglary.The yacht’s owner, Andy Cunningham, told The Post that Forbes had ransacked clothing, eaten food and consumed four bottles of wine aboard the vessel.A missing-person report had been filed for Forbes days before her arrest.Forbes later agreed to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at Marin General Hospital during a court appearance and did not enter a plea.
Her attorney, Randy Knox, said at...