Mayor who slammed NYC 'guidos' calling it quits

BELMAR, N.J. (AP) — The Jersey Shore mayor whose blog offended Italian-Americans, Staten Island residents and blondes is calling it quits.

Belmar Mayor Ken Pringle won’t seek re-election in November after 20 years in office.

Pringle says he was not asked by Democratic Party bosses to step down because of his “tongue-in-cheek” comments about summer visitors in 2008.

Pringle portrayed Staten Island women as heavily hair-sprayed blondes holding drinks and called men “guidos.”

To make amends, the mayor participated in a daylong tour of the New York City borough.

During his tenure in Belmar, Pringle ushered a 2001 ban on smoking on borough beaches. He also took steps to transform the small shore community from a summer party town to a family destination.