SOUTHEAST : Mayoral Changes Stormy in Some Cities

The annual reorganization of area city councils in the last two weeks has been marked by continued signs of political growing pains.

Much of the leadership changes in Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Huntington Park, Maywood and South Gate were characterized by some of the infighting and bickering evident in last year’s municipal elections.

Each year, the cities select a new mayor and mayor pro tem, which for the most part are ceremonial one-year positions rotated among council members.

Perhaps the most apparent friction was in South Gate, where about 20 people left the City Council chambers in protest after Albert Robles was unanimously chosen mayor for his second consecutive term. Councilman Jerry Garcia was selected vice mayor, replacing Councilman Henry Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who served as mayor in 1983 and 1987, was seeking the mayoral post after a falling-out with Robles. Gonzalez ended up voting for Robles to show unity, but the outcome outraged his supporters.

“We don’t think (Robles) deserves another term,” said Grace Sheehy, a protester at Tuesday’s council meeting and widow of two-time mayor John Sheehy, who died in 1992. “He hasn’t been a decent mayor.”

Gonzalez cited Robles’ inability to attend community meetings. He added that voters disliked Robles’ acceptance of a home mortgage in January from the city’s new first-time buyer assistance program, even though the city attorney said that Robles was qualified for one of the 25 loans.

Gonzalez promised to back Robles for mayor--until he decided to retire from his job at the United Auto Workers and vie for the mayoral post himself. And Robles didn’t like that.

“(Gonzalez) decided to break his commitment to me. Some of his supporters didn’t see me eye to eye,” said a festive Robles, who said the position means clout for the officeholder. “Then he tried to save face by supporting me. He did something he shouldn’t have.”

Robles promised to forgive and move forward. Others may not forget.

“He called me a traitor, and I don’t think that’s right,” Gonzalez said. “I can work with him, but I will also be the watchdog for the council now.”

By comparison, reorganization in other cities was quieter.

Rosario Marin, the vice mayor of Huntington Park, was poised to become the first woman mayor in the city’s 89-year history. Traditionally, the vice mayor moves up to mayor, but she couldn’t garner enough votes after she was nominated by Councilman Raul Perez.

Instead, veteran Councilman Thomas E. Jackson was selected mayor, the ninth time he will hold the post in his 27 years in office. He replaces Ric Loya, who served two consecutive terms. Loya nominated Jackson for the mayor’s post. Councilwoman Jessica Maes was unanimously selected mayor pro tem, replacing Marin.

In Bell Gardens, Maria S. Chacon returns to the mayor’s seat for her second consecutive term.

Councilman Rudy Garcia, elected in 1992, will serve as mayor pro tem, taking the place of Ramiro Morales. Morales, Garcia and Chacon form a voting bloc on the five-member council.

During Maywood’s passing of the gavel, Dorothy Ramirez, a first-term councilwoman elected in 1992, was voted into the mayor’s slot with all but one vote, Councilwoman Elvira Moreno-Guzman.

Councilman Tomas Martin, who was elected last year, moves into the pro-tem position, filling the vacancy left by Ramirez.

In other reorganizations, Alex Rodriguez and David Silva will serve another term as mayor and mayor pro tem, respectively, in Cudahy. Councilman George Cole has been named mayor in Bell a third time.

The mayor’s job in Commerce went to Artemio E. Navarro, an intermediate school teacher.