Hartford Mayor Submits Resignation

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The mayor of Connecticut's capital city
has resigned, one week after being convicted of in a political
corruption case.

Eddie Perez's chief of staff delivered his letter of resignation
to City Hall on Friday.

 It says he was stepping down immediately. He says he hopes
Hartford's residents will forgive him for what he called "mistakes
I made that have harmed the reputation of the city I love."

City Council President Pedro Segarra was scheduled to be sworn
in as mayor later Friday.

 A Hartford Superior Court jury convicted Perez last week of
receiving $40,000 in home improvements as a bribe from a
contractor, and trying to extort $100,000 from a developer for a
political ally.

 Perez denies the allegations and says he will appeal. Sentencing
is set for Sept. 10.

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