Roger Hedgecock

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Roger Hedgecock (right) interviewing Mark Wyland, 2005

Roger Allan Hedgecock (born May 2, 1946 in Compton, California) is an conservative talk radio host and former mayor of San Diego, California.

At 10, his family moved to Loma Portal, San Diego. Due to his father's sickness, he couldn't work for awhile. The family had some tough times and the younger Hedgecock worked various jobs in his youth. Since his youth, he has been an avid surfer. He graduated from St. Augustine High School, before graduating with an AB from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1968 and from Hastings Law School in 1971. He practiced law and became city attorney for Del Mar in 1974.

Hedgecock first became involved as a youth in the Barry Goldwater campaign for president in 1964. Hedgecock was elected as a Supervisor for San Diego County, serving from 1976 to 1983, the youngest person to serve as Supervisor. In 1983 he was elected mayor of San Diego, campaigning as a progressive Republican. He campaigned as an environmentalist to stop the "Los Angelization" of San Diego, and won the support of the minority and gay and lesbian communities. In 1985 he was forced from office after being convicted on one count of conspiracy and 12 counts of perjury involving improper campaign contributions. Hedgecock failed to report over $350,000 in illegal contributions from Nancy Hoover, David Dominelli, and the J. David Company. The perjury charges were later overturned due to prosecutor misconduct to include jury tampering, and, under a deal with prosecutors, Hedgecock pleaded guilty to misdemeanor money-laundering.

His political career over, Hedgecock started as a talk show host four days after resigning. Despite having been a moderate Republican when running for County Supervisor and Mayor, as a talk show host he has usually taken far right stances on most political issues, especially illegal immigration. His ratings were first fueled with his campaign contribution controversy, and has remained a popular commentator. He often does transatlantic simulcasts with James Whale on the British station, talkSPORT, and is also a frequent guest host for Rush Limbaugh. Hedgecock can be heard on San Diego's NewsRadio 600 KOGO. He also works as a lobbyist, has written books, and speaks at seminars.

Hedgecock is based in San Diego. He is married to Cindy Hedgecock, and the couple have two sons, James and Christopher.