STATELINE -- Plagued by problems with the law and acknowledging in a letter to the board problems in his personal life, Commissioner Steve Weissinger stepped down as the board's chairman Thursday.
Kelly Kite, who has been serving as interim chairman since June, was voted in as chairman while Bernie Curtis will serve as vice chairman.
Weissinger, who was chairman for nine months, is facing court hearings in two separate criminal cases involving embezzlement charges and a drunken-driving charge.
In June, Weissinger was arrested at Raley's Supermarket in South Lake Tahoe where he was a manager after video surveillance allegedly showed Weissinger putting a $100 bill in his pocket. Weissinger has said it was an accidental cash handling error.
El Dorado County prosecutors will argue at a Nov. 3 trial they have evidence of three instances where Weissinger has allegedly taken a total of more than $1,000. Weissinger has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Also, last month Weissinger was charged with suspicion of drunken driving in Carson City. Weissinger's attorney, William Cole, has said that Weissinger was under the legal limit of being under the influence.
Weissinger, who lives in the Gardnerville Ranchos, was elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2000.
