3 Civil Rights Panelists Back Election Monitoring

Three members of a committee looking into allegations of civil rights violations in Bell Gardens want the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor next month’s recall election in the city.

Voters will decide Dec. 10 whether council members Robert Cunningham, Letha Viles, Allen Shelby and Douglas O’Leary should be recalled for failing to heed residents’ concerns about housing, economic development and the rights of residents.

On Wednesday, the state advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights held a hearing into allegations that city code enforcement unfairly targets and harasses residents, most of whom are Latino.

During the hearing several residents pleaded with the committee to monitor the election because they believe city officials will try to tamper with ballots.

Mary Ann Barron, a leader in the recall effort, said that she and others saw unsealed ballot boxes during a September special election. Barron also told the committee that one ballot box came in two hours late.

City Clerk Leanna Keltner said all ballot boxes were returned to City Hall properly sealed. She said that she would welcome U.S. Department of Justice officials if they choose to monitor the election.

The four committee members who held Wednesday’s hearing must take their recommendations to the full 11-member committee, which in turn must petition the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for help.

Committee Chairman Michael C. Carney says the commission must ask the Justice Department to monitor the election.