Vanessa Delgado sworn into State Senate

Montebello Mayor Vanessa Delgado took the oath of office today to fill the seat vacated by Tony Mendoza in the 32nd Senate District City News Service reports.

Delgado will represent the district through November with the winner of the November run-off assuming the seat next year.

Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia resigned to avoid sanctions he was expected to face after an investigation confirmed several allegations of sexual harassment he had been accused of.

The wire service also states that Delgado also a Democrat will resign from her seat on the Montebello city council

https://mynewsla.com/business/2018/08/13/delgado-sworn-in-to-senate-seat-but-will-surrender-montebello-post/

-08/13/2019

NLMUSD Board Vacancy Candidate interviews tonight

NORWALK-  The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board will interview candidates tonight during it's regular meeting tonight at 6:30 P.M. at the District Offices at 12820 Pioneer Boulevard in Norwalk.

The five candidates were selected from the 14 residents that originally applied after their applications were examined and ranked as most qualified by board members.

Three of the five are from La Mirada including Diegi De Lama, the only candidate to receive the highest marks by each of the board members

The other La Mirada residents invited back for the oral interview are Irene Salazar and Jorge Tirado.

Norwalk residents Norma Amezcua and Jude Cazares are the other two finalists.

Diane Gramajo, who placed second in the La Mirada Council, District One vote in March, was not invited back for the  final interview.

The board is expected to select the successful candidate during the meeting.

Also tonight board members will hear the results of a committee report on a proposal to rename the Softball Field at LMHS in honor of gold medal Olympian Jennie Finch.

La Mirada Councilman accused of harassment

Lamplighter editor Brian Hews alleges that La Mirada Councilman Andrew Sarega and his father Ion Sarega are now harassing him in apparent retaliation for it's coverage of election campaign irregularities.

The investigation by Hews outlined in a series of articles, were critical of the election campaigns by Sarega who won re-election, and Tony Aiello, owner of a local blog who lost his bid for the District One seat to newcomer John Lewis last March.

After the election Hews filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practises Committee requesting that his findings be investigated.  The case is still under investigation.

Hews reports as he was leaving his office last Tuesday both Sarega's were waiting for him in the parking lot to depart.

Hews alleges that both Sarega's approached him in an aggressive manner, but quickly retreated to their car when Hews began snapping photos.

http://lmlamplighter.com/la-mirada-councilman-andrew-sarega-and-his-dad-ion-harassing-lamplighter-publisher/

Lamplighter reports turn up the heat on failed candidate Tony Aiello

LA MIRADA-    The latest in a series of investigative reports posted online by the La Mirada Lamplighter Friday further a claim that losing District 1 candidate Tony Aiello was closely aligned with the controversial re-election of Andrew Sarega to the District 2 seat.

Brian Hews publisher of three local papers including the Lamplighter and Los Cerritos Community News published a ampaign statement indicating Aiello made a $1,781 campaign contribution to the Sarega campaign ten days after the election was held.

Councilman Sarega is the subject of a state Fair Political Practises Commission investigation requested by Hews that it look into possible inappropriate coordination with a campaign committee.

A campaign mailer by the committee Citizens for a Better La Mirada targeting District 2 incumbent Pauline Deal were seen by many as an unfair 'hit piece'.

The Lamplighter investigation documents that the controversial mailer was nearly identical to another 'hit-piece' targeting District 1 winner John Lewis, and were mailed from the same Dallas  printer.   Lewis bested Aiello and two in that race..

Tony Aiello

Aiello denied knowledge of the controversial mailers in early March in a brief statement to La Mirada News Source.

Several years ago both Hews and Aiello owner of La Mirada Blog collaborated to launch the Lamplighter.

There was no indication that Tony Aiello was part of any FPPC investigation.

At a March council meeting Sarega also denied any responsibility for the controversial mailers, but added he respected the rights of the committee to do so a constitutionally protected free speech.


Fridays report can be seen at this link: http://lmlamplighter.com/la-mirada-candidate-tony-aiello-donated-1781-to-la-mirada-councilman-andrew-seregas-campaign/

The entire series of investigative reports can be seen at lmlamplighter.com

Sen. Calderon withraws bid to unseat Rep. Sanchez

State Sen.Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Loretta Sanchez according to a report by Daily News political writer Mike Sprague.

Sanchez (D-Cerritos) now is the favorite to win another two years in Washington representing a large section of southeast Los Angeles County including La Mirada.

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_19863158