Jochem leaves Upper water district

Looks like Tim Jochem’s time managing Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District is over.

Jochem has tendered his resignation and his last day on the job was Wednesday, according to reporter Rebecca Kimitch.

Of course his departure is not without controversy — some say Jochem, 53, was ousted from his post.

“Tim was planning to retire in two years. I find the board’s decision during these tough economic times egregious … I can’t imagine our constituents being happy about that, especially when he was doing his job,” board member Tony Fellow said in a written statement.

Apparently the district is now going to be stuck with paying some $400,000 on the remainder of Jochem’s contract as well as the salary for an interim.

Jochem told Kimitch he had “absolutely no” problem with his dismissal.

Board President Al Contreras said the decision to remove Jochem was because they want his replacement to work “cradle to grave” on a water recycling project the district is starting.

Contreras’ predecessor, Leon Garcia, wasn’t buying the explanation.

“If that was the case … under prudent planning and governance, they would have found someone to replace him before they fired him,” Garcia said.

So what does Jochem — who by the way, said he has no hard feelings about the removal — plan to do now?

He’s thinking about going to Indonesia on a post-earthquake aid mission, and he also wants to join the Peace Corps and serve in South America.

“There are thousands of kids in South America who are dying from an inadequate water supply, from water-borne diseases that we eradicated years ago,” Jochem said.

Campaign Finance: Santa Fe Springs

Curious about campaign finance in Santa Fe Springs?

Reporter Sandra Molina breaks down the dollars and cents in the campaign coffers of City Council candidates.

Mayor Louie Gonzalez, who is running for re-election in November, is leading with $20,223 raised.

Councilwoman Betty Putnam was second with $13,644, followed by Lillian Carrillo Puentes with $6,355; Mike Madrigal with $5,500; Juanita Trujillo with $4,157; A.J. Hayes with $3,312; and Jose Angel Zamora with $2,800.

Gonzalez has loaned $3,500 to Puentes and $1,000 to Madrigal.

His biggest contributor, with $5,000 was Ecology Auto Parts of Cerritos.

The same company also donated $2,500 to Madrigal.

Vernola’s Tow Service, of Norwalk, and Villages at Heritage Springs, of Manhattan Beach, each gave $2,500.

Putnam’s campaign received the most — $2,000 — from Serv-Wel Disposal and Recycling, of Montebello.

CR & R Incorporated, of Stanton, and Marquart Land Co., of Cerritos, each donated $1,000.
The Santa Fe Springs Firefighters Local 3507 gave $2,000 to Trujillo, a pharmacy manager.

County likely to approve $500,000 holiday party

Like many other counties and cities in the state, Los Angeles County is struggling.

The county’s unemployment rate is at 12.3 percent.

Sales-tax receipts were down 19.54 percent for the months of April, May and June compared to the same time in 2008.

And courtrooms were closed and trials delayed early this summer when the county superior court system began monthly employee furloughs.

But at least the county has enough Benjamins in the bank — nearly half a million to be exact — to splurge on the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration in December.

The county Board of Supervisors is expected to approve the three-hour holiday party on Tuesday.
It’s a 50-year county tradition and is free to the public, county spokeswoman Judy Hammond said.

“It’s a thing they’ve done forever and they have all of these community arts groups that come in and perform,” she said. “The public can come and go as they want.”

Supervisor Gloria Molina, who represents parts of the San Gabriel Valley, hasn’t made a decision yet on how she is going to vote, but is leaning toward approval, her spokeswoman Roxane Marquez said.

Despite hard times, Marquez said the party is an arts programs that is looked forward to by the public.

“It may be difficult for some of the more affluent families in L.A. County to believe, but free concerts like this for the holidays are sometimes the only such activity that our less affluent residents get to enjoy,” Marquez said.

Cable franchise fees are footing the $449,000 bill. The money was previously allocated in the county Art’s Commission’s budget for 2009-10, according to staff reports.

And that half a million dollars is $100,000 less than in previous years, Hammond said.

Hey, it is a recession year.

Former LP mayor wants to get back into politics

Former La Puente Mayor Lou Perez is getting back into the political game.

The 72-year-old La Puente resident is facing four challengers — including two incumbents — in the race for the La Puente Valley County Water District board.

Perez said he just happened to be down at the County Registrar’s office picking up paperwork for his wife’s school board candidacy when he decided to file paper’s for his own water board candidacy.

“It’s a simple job,” Perez said, going on to say although he has no water board experience, “it’s not a job that’s impossible to do.

He’ll face Board President Charlie Aguirre, Vice President John Escalera, La Puente Planning Commissioner Henry Hernandez, and Elizabeth Bermejo for the board’s three open seats.

Election violation in West Covina

It appears West Covina City Council candidates Fred Sykes and Colleen Rozatti have been using the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder County Seal on their campaign literature.

Both candidates were sent letters dated Sept. 29 by the County Registrar office demanding them to ceast and desist use of the seal.

“Such use is likely to cause confusion and mislead the public into mistakenly believing the statements have been made sponsored, endorsed or are otherwise affiliated with the Registrar,” the letter states.

Skyes said the seal is included on every candidate’s campaign filing statement.

“Instead of transferring that on a different paper, made a copy of it and used it to campaign in the city,” Sykes said. “I wasn’t trying to mislead anyone.”

He plans to make new campaign statements.

Rozatti could not be reached for comment.