PORTLAND (AP) — Portland’s tough health inspector, who drew the ire of the city’s restaurant and bar owners for her high rate of failing their businesses, has resigned.
City spokeswoman Nicole Clegg said Michele Sturgeon has stepped down, but she did not provide details. Sturgeon did not return phone calls.
Sturgeon was hired in August 2011 to strengthen the city’s restaurant inspection program.
Before Sturgeon arrived, only 28 restaurants out of 556 inspected between 2008 and 2010 failed — a failure rate of 5 percent.
Sturgeon failed 19 out of 23 inspected restaurants in 2011 and 40 out of 88 restaurants in 2012 alleging imminent health hazards.
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