The Examiner reports that Alex Tourk, campaign consultant and lobbyist-about-town, resigned from Dennis Herrera's campaign for mayor today. In a statement, Tourk said Herrera should be spending more time focusing on his campaign and less time being distracted by questions about Tourk and his firm Ground Floor Public Affairs. The announcement comes after Tourk found himself scrutinized for his work in winning the lease to the Stow Lake boat house for his client Ortega Family Enterprises.

Meanwhile, over at the Chronicle: City Insider spotted records showing Tourk apparently failed to register communications he had with members of the Rec and Park Department on behalf of the Ortega Family, which probably constitutes an ethics violation. Although the Ethics Committee doesn't discuss their investigations, if they do find foulplay it could cost Tourk's firm 10 grand per violation. (For comparison, Tourk reportedly got at least $15,000 from Ortega Family Enterprises for his work.) Funny he forgot to log those communications, when he was almost too happy to make a note of unrelated discussions he had with Dennis Herrera.

For what it's worth, in a statement emailed to the press, Herrera put some safe distance between his campaign and the controversy around Stow Lake, while acknowledging the work Tourk's firm has put in so far. Herrera's words:

"Today I accepted Alex Tourk's resignation from my mayoral campaign. I appreciate that Alex does not want be a distraction. I am grateful to Alex for everything he has done to help build this campaign. This is an unfortunate situation but I wish him well in his future endeavors."

According to Herrera's team, primary campaign consultant Whitehurst Mosher will stay on to lead the City Attorney's bid for mayor.

[SFExaminer]
[Chron]
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