In a decision suddenly made public this morning, City Manager Mark Scott annoucned his resignation. He is offering to stay on through the April election, and ultimately until the budget is settled, but “what I have offered is completely subject to the City Council’s wishes, and we’ll see what happens next.”

In a telephone interview with Culver City Crossroads, Scott offered that “it was all personal, family stuff. That’s what’s really driven the whole thing.”

Scott and his wife Carol have been living on seperate coasts for the past six months, with Carol still in Spartanburg, the South Carolina city that was Scott’s previous post. While trying to find a base that they could both work from, Carol’s search for employment in California did not lead to Culver City as a likely headquarters.  With family located in central California, in the Fresno area, and aging parents who need more time and attention, Scott felt that they both needed to be closer to home.

“I just feel badly that I put everyone in Culver City through this; it was not ever my intention to take the job and leave it so abruptly. ” Scott said on the afternoon of Feb. 8,  with a catch in his voice that sounded sorrowful. “When I made the choice to take the job, the situation seemed quite different, and I certainly did not foresee it all turning around this fast.”

Hie sense of connection to Culver City was “very deep, and I just feel badly that this is now my time to leave. I would never have accepted the position (of City Manager) if I had any idea I would have to resign after such a short time.” Scott does have another position that he has accepted, but was not at liberty to say more about it. While hopeful that the council will accept his proposal to remain through April, Scott said “we’ll just have to see what the council feels is the best way to go.”