(Photo: Getty)

Former Mayor Ed Koch and Governor Andrew Cuomo have a long and colorful history, stretching all the way back to Mr. Koch's initial mayoral election against Mario Cuomo, the current governor's father, in a hotly-contested, occasionally bitter 1977 race that Mr. Koch ultimately won. Although Mr. Koch continued to tweak the younger Cuomo for years after--calling him a "schmuck" in his latest documentary, for example--the two became political allies on a number of issues during Mr. Cuomo's political career and governorship. Earlier today, Mr. Cuomo described his final words with the late Mr. Koch and the inspiration he received from them.

"I talked to the mayor two days ago. He's in the hospital. .... I said to him, 'Mister Mayor, how are you feeling?' [He replied,] 'Stronger every day. Stronger every day.'" Mr. Cuomo recalled in a radio interview with New York Post columnist Fred Dicker. "To me, that's the essence of Ed Koch. Stronger every day. Tomorrow's going to be better. Optimism. Look forward. Don't look back. You think the situation is bleak? Nah, we're going to conquer. We're going to win. We're going to be better. Stronger every day. Now, he had to know where he was, right? 'Stronger every day.' How beautiful is that?"

Despite his serious health condition, Mr. Cuomo said Mr. Koch was more interested in the policy details of New York State's recently-enacted gun control bill and ending Washington gridlock so something similar can be done federally.

"He--you're not going to like to hear this--but he was all excited about the gun bill," Mr. Cuomo explained, teasing Mr. Dicker over his constant criticism of the legislation. "New York did it and he was talking about Washington and the confusion and the controversy in Washington about it. New York had made progress again. He was supportive of me in my race and he was very excited about that."

Mr. Cuomo also reflected on that 1977 race that pitted him so sharply against Mr. Koch, describing the political talents of his father and Mr. Koch as "just beautiful to watch."

"I really first encountered Ed Koch in the 1977 mayoral," Mr. Cuomo remembered. "I was a kid, I was about 19 years old. At that time you had Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo, and they were like the Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier of our time. They were both extraordinary talents, different styles, different personalities, different people, but  really they were just beautiful to watch. They were both a high point of the profession. ... Ed Koch was more gregarious, more outgoing and he [was] delighted in being a character. He was great for New York City. He was a New York City, ethnic, bigger-than life character. ... He was extraordinary and he did it for a long, long time."

The governor, who's known for his forceful management style, labeled Mr. Koch as a "case study" for him as he eventually pursued his own career in elected office.

"Ed Koch won the 1977 mayoral obviously. And he was a very instructive case study to me. He loved government, was aggressive about what government could do," Mr. Cuomo said. "He was very activist in making the government operate. We talk about performance, he was about performance. He was about integrity, attracting the best and the brightest. He made government fun and cool again. People loved to be in the city government with him and there was an energy and a buzz about being in city government and you were fighting the good fight. He used the government very well."

(Photo: Emily Anne Epstein)

At 2 a.m. this morning, former Mayor Ed Koch passed away due to congestive heart failure. He was 88, outspoken, and if you listen to some of New York City's leading political figures, "an irrepressible icon," "larger than life" and "part of the fabric of New York."

“I’m expressing my condolences on behalf of all 8.4 million New Yorkers, and I know so many of them will be keeping Mayor Koch and his family and friends in their thoughts prayers," Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced in a statement. "As we mourn Mayor Koch’s passing, the flags at all City buildings will be flying at half-staff in his memory.”

Mr. Bloomberg further reflected on the meaning of Mr. Koch's passing and the footprint on the city the former mayor leaves behind.

“New York City lost an irrepressible icon, our most charismatic cheerleader and champion," he said. "He was a great mayor, a great man, and a great friend. In elected office and as a private citizen, he was our most tireless, fearless, and guileless civic crusader. Through his tough, determined leadership and responsible fiscal stewardship, Ed helped lift the city out of its darkest days and set it on course for an incredible comeback. We will miss him dearly, but his good works – and his wit and wisdom – will forever be a part of the city he loved so much."

It's not just Mr. Bloomberg who has warm thoughts on Mr. Koch and his contributions to New York City, of course. So throughout the morning, as we receive statements from those hoping to fill Mr. Bloomberg's shoes, this post will continue to be updated.

For her part, the woman Mr. Koch had endorsed to be the next occupant of Gracie Mansion, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, was particularly effusive about Mr. Koch's legacy, saying it "stood taller than the bridge that bears his name":

"All of New York City is in mourning today as we say goodbye to a great mayor, a great man, and a great friend.

Ed Koch dedicated his life to the five boroughs. He loved this city fiercely and it loved him back. He saved us from the brink of bankruptcy, raised our spirits, and restored our city’s reputation in the world. He rebuilt our crumbling infrastructure, adding more than 150,000 units of affordable housing. And after leaving office he continued to make New York a better place, inspiring us through his writing, his activism, and his commitment to change.

But he was more than just the sum total of his accomplishments. Mayor Koch was larger than life. He stood taller than the bridge that bears his name. His sense of humor and tenacious spirit personified this town. Ed Koch was New York.

I can remember seeing him on TV when I was a little girl and thinking to myself, 'If I could ever meet him it would be a dream come true.'

Years later when I was working at the Anti-Violence Project, I was in the midst of a very public battle with City Hall. Mayor Koch called me out of the blue. I had never spoken to him in my life. He told me, “You’re doing the right thing. Don’t back down, and call me if I can do anything.”

Mayor Koch was never one to back down from a fight, and never above reaching out to a stranger to offer his help. Throughout my years in government, some of my proudest and fondest moments have been working and fighting by his side.

He once said, 'I don't want to leave Manhattan, even when I'm gone. This is my home.' Ed Koch will never leave New York City. He will exist forever in our hearts, and in the millions of lives he touched.

On behalf of a grateful city, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family, his friends, and all those who loved him."

A former official in the Giuliani administration, Joe Lhota passed along some of his personal memories of Mr. Koch:

"Ed Koch’s bold personality was perfectly emblematic of New York City: loud, funny, out-going and in-your-face. When he walked the streets of New York, with his arms stretched above his head, yelling: 'How am I doing'? it wasn’t just a rhetorical question - - he really wanted the people to answer. Why? He wanted to always do a great job serving the City he loved.

For me, I will always remember Mayor Koch holding press conferences without his jacket, in a wrinkled shirt with his sleeves rolled-up, jousting with reporters. He loved every minute of it. He always represented the hard-working people of the City. Personally, I will always be thankful for Koch’s leadership in bringing the City out of the Financial Control Period. He was flawless in getting the City back on its feet."

While Doe Fund Founder George McDonald kept things simple with "Mayor, you did just great!":

"Mayor Koch was the quintessential New Yorker and a man whose life was synonymous with the character, complexity and magic of our great city. Today, we mark his passing with a final answer to his familiar refrain: How’m I doing? Mayor, you did just great! Rest in peace."

Former Comptroller Bill Thompson said Mr. Koch "embodied the spirit of our city":

“Today, our city mourns a great New Yorker. Throughout his life, Ed Koch embodied the spirit of our city. As mayor, Koch navigated New York through treacherous times and seemingly impossible challenges with humor, determination and strength. We‘ve lost an amazing New Yorker, but his indomitable spirit will be carried with each of us whose lives he touched and all those he inspired.”

Manhattan Media's Tom Allon looked at the former mayor's passion for reviewing movies:

"New York has not only lost an iconic mayor who led the city's renaissance after the 1970s fiscal crisis, but a great American who loved his country and who loved Israel and was never shy to express his feelings about those who he thought were a threat to his beloved city, nation or Israel.

"Koch had an exemplary post-Mayoral life where he found meaning and passion in various new roles from attorney to television personality to movie critic. It was in the latter role that I got to know him well: as the editor of his weekly film reviews in the 1990s I witnessed Koch's passion for telling our newspaper readers whether the movies he saw were worth the price of admission.

"When he started, he told me his ground rules: no movie openings, no talk of cinematography, just a straight ahead review of whether the film told a good story and was worth the viewer's time and expense. That summed Koch up: he was honest, blunt and told it like it was.

"New York will miss him and his unique style."

Comptroller John Liu labeled Mr. Koch a "true New Yorker":

"Ed Koch was a true New Yorker, outspoken and feisty to the very end. He lived a great life of 88 years, leaving an indelible imprint on the City, and we will miss him.”

Noting he "often disagreed with Ed," Public Advocate Bill de Blasio touted the Koch administration's accomplishments:

“When Ed Koch said ‘How'm I doing?’ it was both a boast and an act of humility. That simple phrase captured the fact that he was deeply connected to everyday New Yorkers. And that connection fueled his urgency and his greatness. He helped bring us out of the fiscal crisis, he helped bring the South Bronx back, he helped give us hope again—all because it was personal for him. He simply wouldn't let New York City fail. Like many, I often disagreed with Ed. But I also got to know and learn from this great man, with a heart and mind as big as the city he loved. Ed Koch is gone now, but his energy and inspiration can never be forgotten by those of us lucky enough to have known him.”

Ed Koch earlier this month. (Photo: Emily Anne Epstein)

Earlier this afternoon, former Mayor Ed Koch was placed in the intensive care unit at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, his spokesman George Arzt announced.

"Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum, Mayor Koch's cardiologist and lead doctor, said he wanted to monitor the former mayor more closely," Mr. Arzt said in a statement.

Mr. Koch was hospitalized on Monday due to congestive heart disease and the associated fluid buildup around his lungs. It was his fourth hospitalization over the course of the past five months.

Two days ago, the documentary Koch--about Mr. Koch's administration, naturally--premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a plethora of the city's top politicos present. Although his illness kept him from attending, Mr. Arzt told Politicker yesterday that Mr. Koch was keen to know all of the event's details.

“He wanted to know about the premiere, he wanted to know who was there, he wanted to know the reaction,” said Mr. Arzt. “He was happy that it got good reviews and he was happy that people really enjoyed the movie.”

(Photo: Emily Anne Epstein)

When former Mayor Ed Koch went to the hospital earlier this month after suffering a buildup of fluid in his lungs and ankles due to congestive heart disease, he was out after eight days. Mr. Koch returned to New York Presbyterian on Monday and, according to his spokesman George Arzt, though the mayor's condition has improved, this latest trip to the hospital may be a longer one. 

Mr. Koch's readmission to the hospital was due to more fluid buildup around his lungs that was causing shortness of breath and, initially, made it difficult for him to speak. He has been hospitalized four times in the past five months for similar issues. Mr. Arzt said the mayor now "sounds much better" and "looks like he's getting slightly better."

"Today is the first time I've heard him really say something in a strong voice and I think it'll be a while before he gets out," Mr. Arzt said.

Last night, Koch, a documentary about the former mayor's life, had a premiere screening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with several top politicos in attendance. Mr. Arzt said Mr. Koch asked to be informed about the event and was disappointed he was unable to attend.

"He wanted to know about the premiere, he wanted to know who was there, he wanted to know the reaction," said Mr. Arzt. "He was happy that it got good reviews and he was happy that people really enjoyed the movie. Obviously, all his curiosity about the premiere really indicated how much he wanted to be there."

In addition to asking about the film, Mr. Koch also praised the hospital where he has been undergoing treatment.

"He said that, if you have to get sick, get sick in New York and come to Columbia Presbyterian," Mr. Arzt told us.

Photo: Emily Anne Epstein

Editor's Note: Ed Koch, former mayor of New York City, has died. The New York Observer's interview last week with the three-term mayor was among the last granted by Koch. It's accompanied by photography that captured the over-sized spirit of a mayor who is credited with delivering New York from some of its darkest days.

Edward Koch, the outspoken 88-year-old ex-mayor, is in the hospital for the third time in the past five months, but he’s also in the place where he’s happiest—back in the spotlight. A new documentary, Koch, which tells the tale of his three terms in City Hall and his life after politics, arrives in theaters on Feb. 1.

Late last week, before swelling flared up in his ankles and fluid was found in his lungs again, Mr. Koch could be found in his Midtown office, surrounded by pictures from his days in city government, photos of his sister’s grandchildren—the closest thing the longtime bachelor has to a brood of his own—and other memorabilia. Though he has spent the past decade staying engaged in the political conversation by penning the occasional editorial, offering up endorsements and making regular appearances on NY1, Mr. Koch seemed well aware that health might soon force him to step back from the main stage. But on this day, he was as voluble as ever.

On hizzoner’s desk is a pile of “get well soon” letters, including one on official stationery from Congressman Charlie Rangel. In the event one of his next trips to the hospital ends up being a final journey, Mr. Koch has already purchased a headstone in Washington Heights. Though the epitaph, which he wrote for himself, notes he “was fiercely proud of his Jewish faith,” Mr. Koch will be buried at the Protestant Trinity Church. He says he did this to be sure he was on his beloved isle of Manhattan and, as he puts it in the documentary, to be in the center of a “bustling” cemetery.

(Emily Anne Epstein)

Like the grave site, the film is also something of a capstone for Mr. Koch. He knows the movie may help define him for future generations, and he said he hopes it manages to capture what he sees as the key elements of his legacy, mainly that he played a crucial role in New York’s transformation from the crime-ridden, gritty ’70s and ’80s to the Disneyfication and gentrification of the past 20-odd years.

“I’m proud of what I did,” Mr. Koch explained. “I also believe that Giuliani, and particularly Mike Bloomberg, have made tremendous contributions to the city. I look upon what I did as laying the groundwork and the foundation on which they could build, and without what I did, they couldn’t have done what they did.”

Mr. Koch is also proud of bringing a more meritocratic approach to City Hall after years of patronage and favor-trading.

“If you can love the city that you live in and want to make it, as I did, once again the international capital of the world after it had fallen off the shelf, you can make people respect politicians,” he said. “It’s a good word; it’s not a dirty word.

“Regrettably,” he added, “there are too many people in office who have no conscience and who don’t serve the people and who have sold out. I think that one of my legacies is that I served for 12 years and I never sold out.”

While the documentary makes a convincing case for Mr. Koch’s role as a key player in the revitalization of New York, it also captures some of the controversial elements of his time in office and is clear-eyed about the financially troubled, racially divided city he governed.

(Emily Anne Epstein)

“It’s my first film, but I know that great films are about great stories and great characters,” Koch director Neil Barsky explained. “The story of New York City in the ’80s; arson, grafitti, crack, AIDS. It’s a world that’s gone and ... how did we move beyond that? That’s a great story, and Ed Koch is a great character.”

Despite Mr. Koch’s long love affair with the media, he has always drawn a clear line between his public and private lives. The former mayor has never been married and has long refused to discuss his personal life, despite persistent rumors that he is gay. This chatter reached a crescendo during the AIDS crisis, when activists accused Mr. Koch of avoiding dealing with the disease because of the stigma of homosexuality.

Mr. Barsky wasn’t able to break through the wall Mr. Koch has built around his private world, but he did manage to film the ex-mayor during a variety of intimate moments.

Mr. Koch, a prodigious film critic himself, who sends his reviews to readers via email blasts, cites one of the final scenes of the movie—a shot of him walking down a long hallway and into his house by himself—as proof that he participated in the film without holding back.

“I knew, when they were at the end of the film following me back to my apartment, that it was intended to show loneliness,” he said. “I’m 88, and I’m struggling to walk. It’s one of those pathetic scenes, and I could have said no, but it wouldn’t have been fair. [Mr. Barsky] thought it was important, and I was not going to prevent him.”

Mr. Koch also addressed criticisms of his time in office in the film. Though he admits the anger directed at him—including accusations of racial bias—was “painful,” Mr. Koch clearly relished even his encounters with enemies. A number of archival clips offer a reminder of his gleefully pugilistic political style.

“Who’s better?” Mr. Barsky asked. “Who was better in ’77 and who was better in 2007? That’s sort of a lost art, street politics.”

Mr. Koch said this scrappy approach helped him cope with the tense, tribal and divisive climate of 1980s New York. “I realized that 75 percent of all the attacks are simply theatrics, drama—fun in a way,” he said. “And it reduced the pain.”

Mr. Koch commends Mayor Bloomberg especially for easing the sharply divided political climate that has long persisted in the city. “I believe that Bloomberg deserves the credit for having reduced the tensions,” he said. “There are no racial tensions in town any more. It’s marvelous.”

As for the rumors surrounding his sex life, the film does not gloss over them, but Mr. Koch maintained his refusal to discuss personal issues.

“How you discuss your private life is your private affair,” he told The Observer. “I’ve made clear my position. I think asking anyone running for political office a whole host of questions on the environment, so forth, that’s legitimate. Adding the question, ‘Are you straight or gay?’ is illegitimate. When you respond saying. ‘No, I’m not gay,’ or ‘I’m straight,’ or whatever ... you give license to people to add that question to their questionnaire.”

This issue has new relevance this year, what with openly gay Council Speaker Christine Quinn becoming one of the leading contenders in the mayor’s race. Asked whether Ms. Quinn’s prominence is evidence that times have changed, he said there was still a long way to go.

“There are only 20 states out of 50 that have laws that say you can’t discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation,” Mr. Koch pointed out. “So, you can’t say, and I don’t think that she would say, that there’s no problem for people.”

(Emily Anne Epstein)

Still, Ms. Quinn has his endorsement. He thinks she’s the best-qualified candidate to continue the city’s renaissance.

“I’m extremely nervous,” he said. “I was delighted to see that she was so way ahead in the most recent poll compared with the others. But those are early polls—they mean very little. Anything can happen.”

Though he declined to delve into the specifics of his disagreements with Ms. Quinn’s opponents, Mr. Koch noted that he was especially concerned about how the various hopefuls would handle local unions.

“I worry whether any of the candidates, including mine, will be strong enough to stand up to the municipal unions that are so strong, so murderously strong,” Mr. Koch said. “Basically, the reason I am for Christine is I believe she is the one who has the desire, the philosophical bent to stand up to the unions to a far greater extent than the others.”

And Mr. Koch’s endorsements still carry weight with a specific segment of the public, especially when unexpected (see, for example, George W Bush, 2004, and Bob Turner, 2011).

Mr. Koch has also weighed in on elections outside the five boroughs, and he wants to make his opinion on the next presidential election clear as well. Mr. Barsky’s documentary captures Mr. Koch’s evolving relationship with New York’s Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s widely seen as a potential 2016 presidential contender. Although Mr. Koch had a heated political rivalry with Mr. Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, he gave the younger Mr. Cuomo his endorsement in 2006 and 2010.

(Emily Anne Epstein)

Near the end of Mr. Barsky’s documentary, we see Mr. Koch dub Mr. Cuomo a “schmuck” upon his ascent to the governor’s mansion, because he didn’t make time to see the former mayor at his election-night party. The sting seems to have worn off: Mr. Koch said Mr. Cuomo has done a “marvelous job” in Albany and would certainly have his support if he runs for re-election.

However, if Mr. Cuomo makes a White House bid, Mr. Koch’s backing is not a sure thing. He’s already promoting a Hillary Clinton administration.

“If she would run, I would support her without question,” Mr. Koch said, grinning and pointing to an autographed photo of him standing next to Ms. Clinton on the night she was elected to the Senate in 2000. “That picture appeared in Time magazine,” he recalled. “As she goes up the stairs and I’m right behind her, she says, ‘Stick close to me, I want you in the picture.’ And I’m in the picture.”

Thanks to Mr. Barsky, hizzoner is in the picture yet again. Let’s hope he remains there for years to come.

President Obama speaking today. (Photo: Getty)

Standing before a Red Cross in Washington D.C. earlier this afternoon, President Barack Obama praised response efforts in the face of Hurricane Sandy, singling out New York in particular.

"This storm is not yet over," Mr. Obama said to begin his address, labeling the hardship faced by the country as "extraordinary," adding, "Obviously this is something that is heartbreaking for the entire nation." According to the White House pool report, the president went on to say his "most important message" to those recovering from the storm's devastating aftermath was, "America is with you."

Mr. Obama also noted the special efforts taken after New York University's hospital shut down, requiring an emergency evacuation during the hurricane's height.

In the report, he touted New York City's “spirit" and "resilience," citing those at the hospital “carrying fragile newborns to safety" and the firefighters wading into deep waters during the ordeal.

A subsequent statement from Mr. Obama's press secretary, Jay Carney, said the president will travel to New Jersey tomorrow afternoon, "where he will join Governor Christie in viewing the storm damage, talking with citizens who are recovering from the storm and thanking first responders who put their lives at risk to protect their communities."

Charlie Rangel

Congressman Charlie Rangel is back in the hospital for the second time this month. Mr. Rangel's spokeswoman, Hannah Kim, told The Politicker the congressman is still coping with a back injury that has kept him out of the House of Representatives since February 9, his longest absence in at least ten years.

"The Congressman is receiving additional treatments for his back. He is optimistic that the situation will be resolved soon," Ms. Kim said.

Mr. Rangel spent more than a week in the hospital starting at the end of last month. After that hospitalization, Ms. Kim told us, "his back is dramatically improving and we expect him to be back in Washington in no time." Mr. Rangel's health woes come as he faces a challenge for his seat from former Democratic National Committee head Clyde Williams and, potentially, from State Senator Adriano Espaillat.

News of Mr. Rangel's hospitalization comes on the same day his campaign launched an offensive against what they described as "rumors" and inaccurate press reports. In 2010, Mr. Rangel was censured for multiple ethics violations including using a rent-controlled apartment as a campaign office. Earlier this week, he agreed to pay a $23,000 fine for the campaign office flap. His censure and the changing demographics of his district prompted speculation Mr. Rangel would not run for re-election this year after over four decades in Washington. Today, the Daily News also reported a rumor Mr. Rangel is planning to quickly step down if he is re-elected this year in order to have his longtime ally, Assemblyman Keith Wright, succeed him. Today, Mr. Rangel attempted to dismiss all the various rumors surrounding his campaign by releasing a statement promising to run for re-election and vowing to serve a full term if he emerges victorious.

"I am not in this race so I could politically manipulate the system. The constituents I have long served know, and those who I now seek to represent will learn, that I am a straight-talker. Any rumors that say I'm not going to serve out a full term are false," Mr. Rangel said. "Again, I am absolutely running for re-election. I intend to serve my entire term. There is no wiggle room."

Mr. Rangel's campaign spokesman, Bob Liff, also released a lengthy statement today on the congressman's behalf seeking to clarify the record surrounding his ethics violations:

"It is important for the historical record and for Congressman Charles B. Rangel's constituents to learn the truth, when it comes to inaccuracies in reporting on the background of Congressman Rangel agreeing to pay an FEC penalty concerning an apartment in the Harlem building where he lives. ... Use of language that he 'dodged' or 'evaded' taxes are untrue; neither did he 'hide' or 'conceal' his assets as mischaracterized in many of the articles. ... The tax allegation involved claims that he failed to report as income on his federal tax return the rental income from a time-share unit (not a 'posh' villa as often depicted) he owned in the Dominican Republican which was used to offset his mortgage payments. ... On the use of an apartment as a campaign office, in the Harlem building where he lives, he rented it at the invitation of the landlord at a time when there was a 20 percent vacancy in the building. He paid the maximum rent-regulated rent throughout the time he used the space. Though New York City’s rent regulations are extremely complicated, he immediately moved his campaign office out of the building when controversy around the apartment arose."

Mr. Liff concluded his statement by re-iterating the congressman's intention to run for re-election and continue serving his district.

"No one is perfect, the Congressman is not either. But one thing is for certain, Charlie Rangel will run hard to keep doing what he enjoys and does best--serving his constituents and the country he loves so much," Mr. Liff said.

Councilman Fidler (Photo: Facebook)

After being forced off the campaign trail for at least the past two weeks, Councilman Lew Fidler appears to be actively competing in the special election for Carl Kruger's old State Senate seat again.

“It’s 1,000 percent full steam ahead,” Mr. Fidler told Brooklyn Daily, which first reported the news. Calling the extended stay in the hospital "a temporary setback," he further vowed to “beat the pants off of" his Republican opponent, attorney David Storobin.

He had been hospitalized due to a severe allergic reaction to medications he was taking.

“It’s understandable that people were worried, but those who came to visit me knew that I was going to be walking out of the hospital," he explained to Brooklyn Daily. "Once people see me back on the job, they’ll understand that I’m going to be fine.”

Mr. Fidler's absence had caused debates and candidates' forums to be canceled, as well as some amounts of confusion and concern in the race overall. Mr. Storobin's campaign previously told The Politicker the candidates were next scheduled to debate on NY1's Inside City Hall next Monday.

The special election in the southeastern Brooklyn district is March 20th. The seat opened up when then-State Senator Carl Kruger pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and resigned last December.