Southeast Elections : Redevelopment Praised, Panned : 3 Maywood Incumbents Unite to Face Challengers

Three incumbents and six challengers are competing for three City Council seats in this impoverished, largely Latino city of 25,000.

Incumbents William A. Hamilton, Betty Lou Rogers and Henry Santiago Jr., who are running as a slate, say their redevelopment policy has brought new jobs and housing to Maywood, which was declared a “pocket of poverty” last year by the federal government.

That designation is helping the city obtain federal Urban Development Action Grants to build a 50,000-square-foot shopping center planned for Slauson Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard. The $9-million center, which city officials say will create about 150 jobs, is the largest project ever in Maywood.

But the challengers, including longtime city activists Patricio R. (Pat) Quiles and Ronald E. Fick, say the incumbents have relied too heavily on federal money for redevelopment and have ignored the wishes of residents who have opposed some projects. Quiles and Fick are running together on a slate with write-in candidate Peggy Vargas. The other challengers are Tomas Martin, Sylvia Munoz, Domingo Pinto and Carlos Ruvalcava.

Incumbents Hamilton, Rogers and Santiago all said their goals are to complete a 55-unit senior citizen housing complex and a 37-unit TraveLodge hotel. The incumbents deny that they have been insensitive to the community, saying the best way to help the city is through soliciting projects that create jobs, housing and tax revenue.

Hamilton, 67, self-employed as a landscape gardener, has been on the council 12 years, including one term as mayor. He wants to increase youth programs at Maywood Park and try to attract a restaurant with banquet facilities to the city.

Rogers, 64, a retired employee of Western Electric, said she also wants to seek more retail development for the city and improve Maywood Park. She has served on the council eight years.

Santiago, 27, the only Latino on the council, was appointed in August, 1987, after the resignation of his father, Mayor Henry Santiago Sr. A teacher and baseball coach at Bell High School, Santiago said he wants to see an elegant restaurant built in Maywood.

Challenger Quiles, 64, criticized the incumbents for not participating more in community organizations. The retired mechanic said he wants to increase programs at Maywood Park and scale back redevelopment, which he says has overcrowded the business sector.

Quiles is chairman of the Maywood Traffic Committee, a former Los Angeles County youth commissioner and a member of two elementary school advisory councils.

Fick, 51, a Maywood water superintendent, said he would establish coordinating committees to oversee senior citizen programs, Maywood Park and local education. Fick also wants a review of the city’s method of applying for federal Housing and Urban Development money to see whether Maywood could qualify for additional funds.

Sports Arena Proposed

Martin, 52, a waiter, said he wants the city to build a small sports arena, renovate the existing baseball field and construct a bigger swimming pool. He said he would work to remove graffiti from the city and opposes the construction of a toxic waste incinerator in the neighboring city of Vernon.

Munoz, 27, a program assistant at the Maywood Girl Scout Center, said she wants to create an after-school day care program for children. She is vice president of a school advisory council.

Pinto, 39, a social worker for Los Angeles County, said he wants to develop more recreational, social service and health programs for senior citizens and children. He also calls for better communication between the city and its business community.

Ruvalcava, 33, an eligibility worker in the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, said he would be more perceptive about the city’s cultural heritage than the incumbents. The founder and vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens of Maywood, Ruvalcava opposes construction of the Vernon toxic waste incinerator.

Contributions Reported

The campaign committee for Hamilton, Rogers and Santiago has reported contributions of $2,126 and expenses of $1,531. Each candidate donated $100 to the committee.

The campaign committee for Quiles, Fick and Vargas has reported contributions of $550 and expenses of $287.

Martin, Munoz, Pinto and Ruvalcava each have reported spending less than $1,000 in the council race.

Each of Maywood’s five council members is paid $396 per month and $30 per Redevelopment Agency meeting. The total comes to about $5,400 a year.