Recently in Monterey Park Category

There was a great story in the paper yesterday looking at the 32nd Congressional race, written by Rebecca Kimitch.

What I found particularly interesting is that Monterey Park Councilwoman Betty Tom Chu is throwing her name in the hat. I wonder how badly that will pull the vote away from Judy Chu, who is the Board of Equalization Chairwoman. Judy Chu's consultant called the move by Betty Tom Chu, who will drop the "Tom" on the ballot, as a dirty trick.

Tom Chu said she is running to represent Monterey Park at the federal level. As a side note, Judy Chu is a Monterey Park resident and started her political career by serving on the Garvey School District and then on the Monterey Park City Council.

Kimitch also mentions Sen. Gil Cedillo's spending, which the L.A. Times details.

Whoa. There are a few upsets in this round of elections.

• In Rosemead, incumbents John Tran and John Nunez were ousted. Returning to office is Maggie Clark, and now she will be joined by Steven Ly and Sandra Armenta, according to this article.
• In Covina, Kevin Stapleton and John King are returning to the council, and filling the open seat will be former Councilman Bob Low. City Clerk Rosie Fabian received the second lowest number of votes, according tot the city's Web site.
• In Monterey Park, David Lau returns to office, but Sharon Martinez was ousted. Martinez's seat will now be filled by Betty Tom Chu.Here's the unofficial results.
• In Azusa, it's much of the same. Voters returned the city's incumbents to to two council seats Tuesday night. Incumbents Keith Hanks and Robert Gonzales held the lead with only provisional ballots left to count Tuesday night. Gonzales had 1,338 votes, while Hanks had 1,141.
  

It's election day in several of our cities, including Monrovia, Covina, Azusa, Monterey Park and Temple City.

Any voting issues today?

We got one call this morning about a Covina resident who said the polling place at the Covina United Methodist Church didn't have the information for voters with last names M - Z. It took the guy, whose last name was in the M - Z category, 25 minutes to vote. There were only three people in line, but he had to use a provisional ballot because of the name mix up.

It seems everyone's got an opinion on the state budget these days -- our local pols included.

Here are some quotes from conversations I had last week with mayors in three local cities:

"I'm pleased that it has passed, which will help free up some of the cash flow that has been held back by the state controller. However, I'm not happy about the tax increases and the fact that taxes are being raised in the middle of one of the worst recessions we have had in decades."
-- Joe Vinatieri, Whittier mayor

"I think there are going to be serious repercussions. Without a doubt, solving the budget by increasing taxes is not the way to go and I'm very disappointed."
-- Frank Venti, Monterey Park mayor

"I'm cautiously optimistic about the future. I know California still has a tremendous deficit. We have a lot of problems pending. We have the clouds of recession hanging over us. Passing the budget is the necessary first step on the path to a brighter future, economically speaking. But we still have a lot of work ahead of us."
-- Louie Lujan, La Puente mayor

Lujan went on to question the two-thirds majority needed to pass California's budget. Ever since the drawn-out process to get the state's budget approved began, lawmakers have been mulling the requirement, and whether its time for voters to dump it.

In fact the Associated Press had this story today about the issue:

"We have to do something," said Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael. "I think anybody who's watched this slow-motion train wreck over the last three months ought to agree that this system no longer works, if it ever did."

California is one of only a handful of states that require more than a simple majority to pass budget bills. Rhode Island, like California, requires a two-thirds vote. Arkansas requires three-fourths votes to pass most appropriation bills and simple majorities to approve a separate bill that sets the state's spending priorities.

Lujan said he didn't know what the solution was, but "something less than two-thirds has to seriously be considered."

He also said he found it out odd that among Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado's demands in exchange for his "yes" vote, Maldonado asked for ballot measures that would create an open primary system.

"Maldonado's proposal in changing the California elections code has nothing to do with budgetary process," Lujan said. "It surprises me ... it's an odd forum to discuss (that)."

On the Los Angeles County supervisor front, Michael Antonovich released this statement last week about his thoughts on the state budget:

"What was missing was a comprehensive package of structural reforms including eliminating or consolidating overlapping departments and high-paying political commissions ... Imposing one of the highest tax rates in the nation is a tax-and-spend orgy that further drives businesses, individuals and jobs out of state."

We've already seen some interesting campaign tactics and flyers out of Monterey Park City Council hopeful John "JB" Abajian.

They've included "Crutchman," Abajian's superhero alter ego who will "capture and punish" with his "paralyzing cruth-rays."

And they've also included this campaign flyer that features Abajian with horns, in commemoration with the Year of the Ox.

Now, we've got something else: Abajian's very own campaign theme song, "SOS" or "Stamp Out Shenanigans." Go ahead, take a listen. 

Meanwhile, reporter Amanda Baumfeld has this story about the council race. No surprise, one the biggest issues, she reports, is a controversial Athens Service trash hauling contract approved in 2002, which is currently under a city audit.

Abajian is going up against five other candidates hoping to win two seats: incumbents David Lau and Sharon Martinez, former Councilwoman Betty Tom Chu and residents Joe Ray Avila and Luis Estrada.

Mary Su was sworn in Wednesday as Walnut's first female Chinese-American mayor, Bethania Palma Markus reports today.

The change in leadership between former Mayor Joaquin Lim and Sun couldn't have come at a more contentious time -- Walnut is putting up its gloves in a heated battle against Ed Roski Jr.'s proposed NFL stadium in Industry.

The project cleared a major hurdle Thursday, getting approval from the Industry Planning Commission.

In recent weeks, we've heard a lot of speculation from angry residents who argued Lim wasn't doing enough to fight the planned 75,000-square-foot stadium.

But it seems Su's commitment is being questsioned as well: recall papers have been filed against her and Councilwoman Nancy Tragarz for the same reason.

I spent a few hours before work Sunday visiting the Lunar New Year festival in Monterey Park. The two-day celebration was held the entire weekend along Garvey Avenue, between Garfield and Alhambra avenues.

I should start by saying I'm really glad I went. There were several thousand people there, lots of vendors and lots of food ..... my kind of festival.

A lot of interesting things caught my eye ------ turtles for sale, boxes and boxes of dried ginseng. But the thing that interested me the most: tons of campaign fliers touting candidates for the March City Council election.

Take a look:

Here it is...

When we think about the financial meltdown cash-strapping America, we usually think about the shrinking job pool, toxic housing market and weakened bank industry.

But there are other things being affected by this economic downturn, something near and dear to the hearts of our local politicos -- campaign fundraising.

In Monterey Park, some of the six City Council candidates running in the March 3 race are having a bit of trouble filling their campaign piggy banks.

So far, Councilman David Lau has raised nearly $75,000, but none of that occurred this year. Most of the money actually was raised during one event.

Councilwoman Sharon Martinez hasn't had as much luck. She's only raised $10,000 because businesses -- where she gets her most of her contributions -- are just tapped out.

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Speaking of money, San Gabriel Valley city managers are dealing with the fiscal crunch in a variety of ways.

Temple City's City Attorney/City Manager Charles Martin has offered to work for free after his Feb. 5 retirement if the city can't find his replacement before then.

In a report earlier this month, Martin said he "would be happy to return the benefit of my 44-year tenure with the City by continuing in office, even if I had to serve as a volunteer."
Martin gets $96,696 a year for his duties as city manager and an additional $61,980 annually for being city attorney.

On the other side of the spectrum, La Verne City Manager Martin Lomeli just got a 10 percent pay raise, which takes him from $14,741 a month to $16,215 a month. His yearly salary will be $194,580.

The only dissenting vote was from Councilman Steven Johnson.

Temple City has 33,377 residents, and La Verne has 31,638.

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It wouldn't be a week of political news without an update from the Hilda Solis race.

The already long -- and we mean long -- list of endorsements for state Board of Equalization Chairwoman Judy Chu now includes her husband, Assembly Mike Eng, and United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta.

A lot of Chu's support is local, although several San Gabriel Valley politicians have come out in support of Sen. Gil Cedillo.

They include Monterey Park Mayor Frank Venti, La Puente Councilman John Solis and Baldwin Park Councilwoman Marlen Garcia.

And those who just can't decide? Irwindale Councilman Larry Burrola and Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano have endorsed both candidates.

I guess the real test will come inside the voting booth.

So, late yesterday Irwindale Councilman Larry Burrola announced that in addition to supporting Sen. Gil Cedillo for Congress, he would also be endorsing Board of Equalization Chairwoman Judy Chu.

Burrola is not the only one endorsing both Congressional candidates; so is Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano.

It raises the question: What good is it to endorse two candidates? After all, it's not like we can vote for two people for one seat.

So who does Sen. Gil Cedillo, who is running against Board of Equalization Chairwoman Judy Chu for Congress, have on his side? Here's a list of his endorsements.

Among the local pols supporting him are:

City of Monterey Park
Mayor Benjamin "Frank" Venti

City of Baldwin Park
Mayor Manuel Lozano* (He is also supporting Chu)
Council Member Marlen Garcia

City of Irwindale
Mayor Larry Burrola* (Also endorsing Chu)
Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Ortiz

City of La Puente
Council Member John Solis

City of Duarte
Council Member Phil Reyes

El Monte Union High School District
Board Member Carlos Salcedo
Board Member Salvador Ramirez

Azusa Unified School District
Clerk Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez

Board of Equalization Chairwoman Judy Chu seems to be swiping up the endorsements as she campaigns for the Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Hilda Solis. 

The press release below notes that Assemblyman Mike Eng -- Chu's husband -- is endorsing her. The press release also points out that she received support from council members -- "many of them Latino" -- in the SGV. Could that be a jab at Sen. Gil Cedillo, who is also vying for the seat?

I got this press release earlier today:

***PRESS RELEASE***
Dr. Judy Chu Announces Slew of Local Endorsements
Overwhelming Support Adds Momentum to Congressional Campaign

Dr. Judy Chu, Vice Chair of the California State Board of Equalization
and candidate for the 32nd Congressional District Seat being vacated
by Labor Secretary Designate Hilda Solis, announced today her
endorsement by nearly 70 elected officials representing the cities,
school districts and water boards of the 32nd District.

"I want to thank these local officials for their overwhelming
support," said Judy Chu. "They understand that there is no other
candidate in this race that knows the people of the 32nd Congressional
District better than I do. I am part and parcel of this district,
having taught students at East Los Angeles College for 13 years, and
the people of the district have trusted me to be their leader by
electing me as their representative 9 times over the past 23 years."

So far, Judy has been officially endorsed by the entire City Councils
of El Monte and West Covina, the two largest cities in the district,
as well as all five members of the South El Monte City Council. In
addition, she has secured the support of a majority of Council members
- many of them Latino - from most of the 15 cities in the 32nd
District, including Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, Monterey Park and
Rosemead.

"Dr. Chu's support among the vast majority of the 32nd District's
Latino elected officials reflects her reputation as an effective
coalition builder, and shows that she understands the issues that
matter most to the district's ethnically diverse community," said
Assemblymember Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, who has endorsed Judy. "I
believe she is the best person to represent the San Gabriel Valley in
Washington."

Judy's avalanche of support from the cities of the 32nd District adds
to the considerable momentum her campaign has gained since she first
declared her intention to run for the seat on Dec. 22. In addition to
Assemblymember Hernandez, Judy has been endorsed by Assemblymen Kevin
De Leon and Mike Eng, who along with Hernandez represent most of the
district's residents at the state level, as well as nearly 30 of the
area's school board and water board members.

The weak economy seems to be affecting just about everything. Now, Amanda Baumfeld reports that it is also affecting campaign fundraising out of Monterey Park.

There are six council candidates running in the Monterey Park race. So far, Councilman David Lau has raised nearly $75,000, although none of that occurred this year and that was all done during a fundraiser. (Man, if that was at one event, Lau sure knows how to fundraise!)

Meantime, Councilwoman Sharon Martinez has raised $10,000. She said businesses, which is where she gets her funding, are tapped out.

It looks like Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim is getting a little tired of out-of-the-area cities throwing in their two cents about the stadium project.

This from Ben Baeder, who attended an Industry City Council meeting this morning:

Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim said he understands that the NFL project could bring benefits to the region, but he wished politicians could try to look at the project from Walnut's point of view.

"I have always avoided saying anything about other cities," he said. "But I wish some of the other leaders would put themselves in our shoes."

Not only do many of his constituents hate the idea of having a stadium nearby, traffic and air pollution from the project will affect the entire region, he said. "We're all in this together."

The Industry City Council on Thursday approved an environmental report regarding the stadium.

At the council meeting, Monterey Park Mayor Frank Venti, La Puente Councilman Dan Holloway and Claremont Councilman Sam Pedroza all spoke in favor of the project.

The Independent Cities Association, which is an organization of 52 Los Angeles County cities, unanimously approved a resolution supporting the proposed NFL stadium in the city of Industry.

Not a member of the ICA is the city of Walnut, which has so far been the lone city against the stadium. Walnut is a member of the Contract Cities Association, which has not yet voted on the stadium.

Monterey Park Mayor Frank Venti, who is a member of the ICA, said that he is "incensed" with Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim's continued disapproval of the NFL stadium.

"As the Mayor of Monterey Park I am incensed that Waquin Lim thinks that he has a wall around Walnut, and that he can keep jobs form any of the cities here. I am inncesed that these rich wealthy people in Walnut feel they can stop this development," Venti said.

I found this on Monterey Park City Council Candidate John Bedros Abajian Web site :

"Remember: we're in charge of our city; there is no Batman or Superman to make things right. No superhero can help.

Or Can He?"

The picture features Abajian as Crutchman.

Want to hear what the Monterey Park council candidates have to say? There will be a council candidate forum hosted by the Soroptomist International of Monterey Park/Rosemead at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at 320 W. Newmark Ave.

Terms are up for council members David Lau and Sharon Martinez.

Judy Chu, Board of Equalization chariwoman, announced her interest late last night in Rep. Hilda Solis' seat. Chu lives in Monterey Park, and is a former Assemblwoman and Monterey Park councilwoman. She is married to Assemblyman Mike Eng.

LOS ANGELES - The race for Rep. Hilda Solis' soon-to-be vacant seat in the House of Representatives grew more crowded Monday, as California Board of Equalization Chair Dr. Judy Chu announced she intends to run.

Solis, D-El Monte, will leave a vacancy in the House of Representatives when she takes a position as Secretary of Labor in President Elect Barack Obama's cabinet.

"Today I am announcing my intent to run for the seat representing the 32nd Congressional District, parts of which I have represented for the past 23 years," Chu said in a written statement.

"In the past few days I have received many encouraging calls and e-mails from supporters and constituents urging me to run and I have decided to heed those calls," she said

Monterey Park is hoping that four new developments can fill a retail void in the city. But in the meantime, the city is being sued by its existing business owners, Amanda Baumfeld reports.

This week marks the municipal election filing deadline for several cities in the San Gabriel Valley. San Dimas, Covina and Monterey Park's filing periods closed on Friday. Azusa and Rosemead closes today, La Verne and Glendora close Wednesday.

Look for stories throughout the week about who will be vying for these seats on these city council's.

I am heading now to Covina to take a look at the filing papers, and pick up the statement of economic interest papers. The filing period for the city clerk's position in Covina has been extended to Wednesday because Covina City Clerk Rosie Fabien is running for council.

A friend just pointed out this Los Angeles Times story to me that ran on Friday. The piece looks at the side jobs of legislators, including some local ones like Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park and Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina. It's defintely worth a full read, but here's a little bit of the text...

By Patrick McGreevy
November 28, 2008

Assemblyman Edward Hernandez (D-West Covina). He and his wife are optometrists with private practices; his is in La Puente, hers in Duarte. Hernandez is also past president of the California Optometric Assn., which lobbied this year for legislation that significantly expanded the procedures optometrists can perform. Hernandez voted for the bill (SB 1406) in June as a member of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and in August on the Assembly floor. Ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors able to perform more extensive treatment, including surgery, opposed it.

I found this to be very interesting because these are issues that come up in the newsroom and among our readers all the time.