Tag Archives: mary su

West Nile Virus found in Creekside Park in Walnut

Posted on by
Reply

Two samples of mosquitoes found in traps at Creekside Park tested positive for West Nile virus, the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District reported Friday.

This is the second time mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus have been discovered in the San Gabriel Valley in the past few weeks. The discovery in Walnut follows one in San Marino’s Lacy Park earlier this month, according to mosquito abatement officials.

In Walnut, two of the four samples taken on July 11 tested positive for the virus, said Jason Farned, SGVMVCD spokesman. The San Marino discovery was found during the first week of July, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

“We expect it every year so it is not a surprise that they are here in the San Gabriel Valley,” Farned said. “It is not a matter of if, but when, every summer.”

Creekside Park is the site of Walnut’s summer concert and movie series, a Tuesday night weekly event which usually attracts 1,000 people, said City Councilwoman Mary Su.

She said the city will hold a press briefing at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Creekside Park, 780 Creekside Drive, to inform residents and advise them on how to take precautions.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo’s story VIRUS.

Incumbents Pacheco, Su win hard-fought Walnut City Council race

Posted on by
Reply

Incumbents Robert Pacheco and Mary Su swept to victory Tuesday night in one of the most contested and expensive races in city history.

Pacheco, 79, the elder statesman who served on the City Council and then in the state Assembly only to return to the city last year, and Su, 55, the eight-year incumbent and a leader in the Asian community, won by a wide margin.

In a victory speech at Pacheco/Su headquarters Tuesday night, the former assemblyman denounced the big spenders and an attempt to influence the Walnut election from Sacramento.

“We want to make this city grow and make it free of bad influences,” he began. “They tried to take us down and they failed big time! Walnut is ours! It is the people’s city.”

A relieved Su said: “I’m really thankful for the Walnut residents who still believe in me.”

The pair easily defeated challenger Betty Tang, 46, the president of the Chinese American Parents Association.

With all votes counted and two seats up for grabs, Pacheco was the lead vote-getter with 2,114 votes, Su had 2,095 votes and Tang trailed with 1,659. Write-in candidate Dino Jimmy Pollalis had 139 votes.

The Walnut City Council race could be one of the most expensive in San Gabriel Valley history, with three of the four candidates spending $275,000, campaign records show.

A boatload of campaign dollars from across Southern California fueled a flurry of negative campaigning in the form of attack mailers and nasty emails.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo’s story ELECTION.

Assembly Republican leader apologizes for her involvement in Walnut City Council race

Posted on by
Reply

By Staff Writer Steve Scauzillo

The leader of the Republican Party in the state Assembly said her $5,000 contribution to a political action committee opposed to City Council candidate Mary Su was a mistake, according to Assemblyman Curt Hagman.

Assemblywoman Connie Conway, R-Visalia, who is running for state Senate, apologized to Su on Saturday after this news organization revealed Conway was one of only two contributors to the Long Beach-based Taxpayers For Quality Education, Su said.

Conway told Su and fellow Republicans in Sacramento that she thought the money would be used to fight SCA 5, a constitutional amendment that would reinstate affirmative action in public universities, according to Su and Hagman, R-Chino Hills.

“I know Connie. I talked to her and asked her straight up. She thought it was for another purpose,” Hagman said Monday during an exclusive interview. “She thought it was to oppose SCA 5.”

SCA 5 is a measure authored by West Covina Democrat state Sen. Ed Hernandez that would return affirmative action to school admission decisions. While the bill initially sailed through the state Senate, it faced opposition from more conservative Asian-American groups who feared its return would displace Chinese-American students.

Conway did not return several calls and messages Monday left on her cellphone.

Read more in SORRY

Heavyweights take on challenger for Walnut City Council

Posted on by
Reply

Two political heavyweights in local, regional and statewide politics are running together for two seats on the City Council against a lone challenger who’s involved in fundraising for the schools.

Mary Su, an eight-year member of the City Council and two-time mayor, and Robert Pacheco, a recent appointee to the council who served on the dais from 1996-1998 and then in the state assembly for six years, are running to retain their own seats in the April 8 election.

Betty Tang, 46, serving her third term as the president of the philanthropic Chinese American Parents Association, is running for a seat on the City Council for the first time. She’s married to Tony Tang. The two cofounded CCI Group, Inc. in Walnut, which was incorporated in 1997 and has a annual revenue of about $220,000.

Read more in Steve Scauzillo’s story ELECTION