Jason Lee was removed as vice mayor of Stockton, California, after a contentious city council meeting in which his colleagues voted to strip him of the leadership position.
The decision came Tuesday after months of disagreements over city spending and financial accountability.
Lee, who represents District 6, initially announced during the meeting that he would voluntarily resign as vice mayor.
However, council members rejected a motion to accept his resignation, setting up a separate vote to remove him.
Mayor Christina Fugazi, who nominated Lee for the position in 2025, subsequently introduced the removal motion.
The council voted 4-2 to remove Lee, with members Enriquez and Blower opposing the decision.
Lee was not present for the final vote after explaining that he needed to leave the meeting to catch a flight.
His removal comes just months before his term as vice mayor was originally scheduled to conclude on Dec. 31, 2026. The council also voted 6-1 to remove him as chair of the city’s audit committee.
Despite losing both leadership roles, Lee will continue serving District 6 residents as an elected council member.
