Downey : 7 Challenge 3 Incumbents
Three incumbents and seven challengers are vying for three seats on the Downey City Council in the June 7 election.
Embattled Councilman James S. Santangelo faces four challengers: Barbara J. Hayden, a businesswoman; Joel Lubin, an engineer; Thomas Hartsfield, a school maintenance worker, and Douglas Creek, a business consultant. Hayden is on the Downey Planning Commission and president of the Cerritos College Board of Trustees.
Santangelo, who was elected to the at-large District 5 seat in 1984, faces retrial in July on a misdemeanor conflict-of-interest charge. A Municipal Court judge declared a mistrial last month after a jury deadlocked 11 to 1 in favor of convicting Santangelo.
The councilman is accused of having a conflict of interest when he voted in 1984 to expand the city’s redevelopment district. Santangelo owned property in the expansion area.
Councilwoman Diane P. Boggs, who also was elected in 1984, faces two challengers for her District 1 seat: Gregg Martell, who is retired, and John Drayer, a teacher. District 1 covers the southeast area of Downey.
Councilman Robert G. Cormack is running against Ken Miller, a semi-retired businessman and former Downey councilman. Elected to the council in 1980, Cormack represents District 3 in northwest Downey.
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