Judge: Holley has a week to resign

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Portsmouth Mayor James Holley, whose citizens filed a petition calling for his resignation, has until Friday June 4 to resign. A judge issued that ruling during a court hearing Thursday morning.

The judge said the citizens submitted enough signatures for the petition. If Holley does not resign by the close of business Friday, he will have to go through an election on July 13.

After the hearing, Holley told WAVY.com that he refuses to resign. He said, "He didn't say he was going to put me in incarceration, did he?... I'm still going to be the Mayor." Holley added that he is not upset or worried about this, saying "I'm unemotional... I'm political."

But earlier this month, Holley challenged the petition in a 40 word document, saying he  questioned the "genuineness of the signatures," of which there were nearly 9,000, and the "qualifications of the electors."

A group of citizens initiated the petition drive in September 2009 after it was revealed that Holley had been ordering his city secretary to handle his personal errands. City Council publicly scolded Holley, fined him $2,500 and formally voted to request his retirement.

"This is a process that is ongoing. Everyone expected the mayor not to resign and he has a week to think about that now, but he has shown how he is going to conduct his life and we'll prepare for an election," said Robert Marcus, who was part of the recall petition.

Again, a judge gave Holley until Friday to resign.