Collins Leads in La Palma Race
Dan Collins, a retired electrical engineer, held an early lead Tuesday over two opponents in a race to fill the La Palma City Council seat left by the death of Mayor Tony Van Dyke, 56, who suffered a fatal heart attack last December while presiding at his first meeting as mayor.
With four of 11 precincts reporting, Collins had 383 votes, while Dan Gay, a planner for the City of Los Angeles, had 149 votes, and dental practice consultant Eva Miner trailed with 101 votes, according to city election official Theresa Ball.
The special election was ordered after City Council members deadlocked over the choice of a replacement. Two council members backed Gay, while two supported Collins, a former council member, City Manager Richard Rowe said.
Gay and Miner ran unsuccessfully for council seats last November. Collins was a councilman from 1972 to 1976 and from 1980 to 1984.
Council members in La Palma receive $150 per month for their part-time duties.
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