Leftovers column...
Another week, another round of leftovers...
Two weeks ago we reported stories about failed recall efforts, allegations that Walnut violated the state's open-meeting laws, voter registration fraud and a $12,000 fine for a political consultant.
But last week, we upped the ante. We tackled stories about a harassed councilwoman, fraud and the end of one Baldwin Park woman's political career.
This was a story of a convicted stalker who phoned West Covina Councilwoman Shelley Sanderson three times on a January day. Sanderson can't exactly remember what was said, but Sanderson did say that she felt her was life was threatened.
So she filed a police report, and on Jan. 17 the district attorney filed charges against Lake Elsinore woman Charlynda Lamb.
Sanderson also filed for a restraining order against Lamb, who pleaded no contest last month to making those calls.
The twist in the story is that police believe Lamb targeted Sanderson by posting a sex video on several Web sites. But cops say Lamb didn't produce this tape.
Lamb's next court date is scheduled in March, and police say they are investigating Lamb because they found "things" on her computer that "concern" them.
Montebello Councilman Robert Urteaga said he knew it would just be a matter of time before his felony past became public - and lucky for him, it was after he was elected in 2007.
Urteaga was convicted in 1999 of one count of grand theft.
He said he committed the crime to pay off gambling debts that occurred while he attended UCLA.
So why did this come out now?
Urteaga's past is just another weapon for residents and independent trash haulers who are fighting the 15-year contract Montebello has with garbage company, Athens Services.
The contract was approved by Urteaga and two other council members, and residents oppose it because it phases out contracts with 13 independent trash haulers.
Time will tell whether there will be enough resident pressure to influence decisions in Montebello. But as far as Urteaga goes, he won't be pressured into resigning.
Lately, it seems as though no week is complete without an elected official from Baldwin Park gracing the pages our paper.
Last week, it was Dolores Holguin, former director on the Valley County Water District in Baldwin Park. She pleaded guilty to a felony count of misusing public funds and can never serve as a public official again.
She ran up about $6,200 in personal expenses and charged them to the ratepayers. These included a $10.69 cheesecake from Costco, a $395 phone bill and $2,900 in attorney fees when she initiated private litigation against a fellow board member.
Deputy District Attorney Edward Miller said that he hopes the case serves as an example to public officials.
"It is a message that public officials are supposed to exercise the utmost care when spending the public's money, and if it is not an actual and necessary expense for their function, it is probably illegal," Miller said. "It is clear that higher officials are held to a higher standard."
But whether they live up to it, well, that's another story.
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