Recall Backers Take Office Amid Cheers, Fanfare

To the roar of hundreds of well-wishers, four new Bell Gardens City Council members took office Tuesday night, declaring the democratic process the true winner in an election that gives Latinos a council majority for the first time in this overwhelmingly Latino community.

As a 10-piece mariachi band played “La Diana,” a traditional Mexican victory ballad, George T. Deitch, Josefina (Josie) Macias, Rodolfo (Rudy) Garcia and Frank B. Duran confidently stepped onto the dais to take their council seats behind makeshift name placards.

They replaced Mayor Robert Cunningham, Douglas O’Leary, Letha Viles and Allen Shelby, who were voted out of office last December in a bitter recall campaign that changed politics dramatically in Bell Gardens.

The departing City Council members had called the meeting to order and quickly took care of routine business--approving the minutes of their most recent meeting.

Each council member had a chance to make brief remarks. Cunningham thanked the city staff. O’Leary recited an Abraham Lincoln quote in making a point that “God is the ultimate judge” in such bitter disputes. Shelby simply said: “It’s been fun.” Viles remained silent.

Cunningham then set down his gavel, and the four quietly left the council chambers through a side door.

The celebration began.

The crowd--which included Mexican Consul General Jose Angel Pescador--gave the new council a lengthy, raucous standing ovation. Deitch, Macias, Garcia and Duran jubilantly joined hands and raised them above their heads. Television cameras recorded the events, and the mariachis continued their brassy tribute.

A stoic Rosa Hernandez, the sole council member not targeted in the December recall, remained seated at the dais, looking pale, exhausted and clearly uncomfortable with her new colleagues.

City Manager Claude Booker and City Atty. Peter Wallin also remained in the council chambers, appearing somewhat bemused with the pomp and circumstance surrounding the induction. The new council has vowed to fire Booker, and Wallin has already submitted a letter of resignation to the city.

Although most city councils are sworn in by the city clerk, Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles), handled the swearing-in duties Tuesday night.

“This election has proven that the price of democracy is worth paying,” said Torres, who was a strong supporter of the December recall and had heated exchanges with the former council members over controversial rezoning changes approved late last year. “You have a duty to every resident in this city,” Torres told the new members.

Torres was interrupted several times by a group demanding the immediate recall of the new council. They waved signs proclaiming that last week’s special election was a fraud. The six protesters, who said they are supporters of Rosa Hernandez and her recent rent-control proposal, were jeered and booed by the crowd.

The official part of the meeting lasted less than 15 minutes. The council selected Macias as the new mayor and Duran as mayor pro tem. Hernandez, who kept silent throughout the meeting, abstained.

Then, with a pounding of the gavel by Macias, the council adjourned, the mariachis started up again, and the joyous back-slapping and hand-shaking continued.

But not everyone had partying in mind.

Marie Chacon, who had led the successful recall campaign and who supported Deitch, Macias, Garcia and Duran, was talking about the next hurdle--the April 14 municipal election.

Thirteen candidates--including Deitch, Garcia and Duran--are vying for three at-large seats. Two of the ousted council members, O’Leary and Shelby, will seek to regain their seats.

“We mustn’t let this victory die,” Chacon reminded those who remained in the council chambers. “We must keep walking and walking and walking the streets to make this happiness last.”