Gavin Newsom Goes AWOL?

Some San Francisco residents are expressing annoyance that Mayor Gavin Newsom left town abruptly last week -- without telling his staff. The episode, in which staff members were forced to cancel the mayor's scheduled appearances, drew comparisons to South Carolina governor Mark Sanford's impromptu desertion of his post this summer.

Newsom went to Hawaii last Friday for a vacation with his wife and newborn daughter after announcing that he was dropping his bid for California governor.

The departure even caught his staff by surprise, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Last Friday, hours after speaking before a bank of television cameras about the oil spill in the bay, Newsom announced he was dropping out of the governor's race and hasn't been seen at City Hall since," reported the San Francisco Chronicle. "Word finally came Tuesday that he was on the Big Island with his wife, newborn daughter and in-laws. He left without telling his staff, who abruptly canceled a raft of major appearances on his behalf."

The mayor is reportedly on his way back to work.