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Second of Five Part Series: An Inside Look at the La Mirada City Council Candidates-Gabe Garcia
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| Mayor Gabe Garcia spoke recently at the Kiwanis Club Meeting as part of the groups program highlighting the five city council candidates. In his speech, Garcia made no mention of his recent arrest, and indicated he is still running. |
La Mirada~There are five candidates running for La Mirada City Council. The election is scheduled for March 5th. In the race is Councilwoman Pauline Deal who was appointed to replace Susan Tripp in the summer of 2011; Mayor Gabe Garcia, seeking a second four-year term; Planning Commissioner and businessman Steve Keithly; Paramount Unified Schools Administrator Randy Gray; and Newport Beach Police Officer Andrew Sarega.
The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada has invited all of the candidates to speak at their weekly meeting, and all have accepted. We will provide a brief snippet and some insight to each of the candidate’s speeches.
The schedule is as follows: Andrew Sarega-January 23rd; Gabe Garcia-January 30th; Randy Gray-February 6th; Steve Keithly-February 13th; and Pauline Deal-February 20th.
The following is the first of a five-part series in which we hope to provide you a snippet and some insight into each of the candidate’s speeches. As of now, there has been no candidates forum scheduled for the community.
The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada and the La Mirada Blog are not political organizations. These reports are for informational purposes only and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Kiwanis Club of La Mirada or the La Mirada Blog Network.
On January 30th, Mayor Gabe Garcia was welcomed to speak as the second of the five candidates running for a position on the La Mirada City Council. Gabe recalled that he was here at Kiwanis in 1993 when he was a candidate for a position on the Board of Education of the Norwalk-La Mirada School District. He has been married for 25 years with 2 children who were two and five at his last visit 20 years ago. Much has happened since.
In 1993 the district was upside down, and believed that he helped turn the situation He served 12 years on the board, 12 years on the ROP board. For the city he served eight years on the La Mirada Planning Commission and four years on the Safety Commission. He has learned well how to be involved with the community and how it operates. He also spent time as a teacher of catechism at his church.
Bicycle Stolen from Garage on Alondra; Weekly La Mirada Crime Report: January 28-February 3, 2013
The following is the crime report for La Mirada January 28-February 3, 2013:
Aggravated Assault-An assault was reported on the 14200 block of Mansa Dr. A suspect was taken into custody at the location for pushing the victim to the ground.
Residential Burglary-Three residential burglaries and one attempted burglary were reported last week. A burglary occurred on the 14300 block of Foster Rd. A small amount of currency was taken from the location. A bicycle was reported stolen from a garage located on the 15300 block of Alondra Blvd. A burglary was reported on the 15000 block of Tacuba Dr. An attempted burglary was reported on the 16200 block of Incline Ct. The front double doors were possibly kicked in.
Other Structure Burglary-Three other structure burglaries were reported last week. A burglary was reported on the 14300 block of Rosecrans Ave. An incident occurred on the 13200 block of Parise Dr. A cell phone was taken. Entry was made through the side garage door. The incident remains under investigation. A shoplifting incident was reported on the 15200 block of Rosecrans Ave. Various cosmetics were stolen from the business.
First of Five Part Series: An Inside Look at the La Mirada City Council Candidates-Andrew Sarega
La Mirada~There are five candidates running for La Mirada City Council. The election is scheduled for March 5th. In the race is Councilwoman Pauline Deal who was appointed to replace Susan Tripp in the summer of 2011; Mayor Gabe Garcia, seeking a second four-year term; Planning Commissioner and businessman Steve Keithly; Paramount Unified Schools Administrator Randy Gray; and Newport Beach Police Officer Andrew Sarega.
The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada has invited all of the candidates to speak at their weekly meeting, separately, and all have accepted. We will provide a brief snippet and some insight to each of the candidate’s speeches excerpted from The Kiwanis Chronicles.
The schedule is as follows: Andrew Sarega-January 23rd; Gabe Garcia-January 30th; Randy Gray-February 6th; Steve Keithly-February 13th; and Pauline Deal-February 20th.
The following is the first of a five-part series in which we hope to provide you a snippet and some insight into each of the candidate’s speeches. As of now, there has been no candidates forum scheduled for the community.
The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada and the La Mirada Blog are not political organizations. These reports are for informational purposes only and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Kiwanis Club of La Mirada or the La Mirada Blog Network.
At the January 23rd meeting, candidate, Andrew Sarega expressed his pleasure at being allowed to speak to the members concerning his reasons for running for a position on the La Mirada City Council.
He was raised in La Mirada, attended Escalona Elementary School, Benton Jr. High, and La Mirada High School. He studied for a time at Biola which he interrupted to play professional soccer in Europe. After a debilitating injury he returned to La Mirada. He then was accepted into the police department in Newport Beach and remains there after five years service. Due to his honorable record he received a Life Savings Award, is on the Board of the Police Action Committee, and is a Reserve Coordinator. Sarega is a graduate of Cal St. Fullerton with honors in Criminal Justice. He speaks three languages and is working on a fourth. He has Real Estate and Appraisers licenses, owns his own appraisal business, is president of a corporation, and is involved in a used car business.
Crime Rate Drops in La Mirada
La Mirada~Crime in La Mirada has dropped by 37.7 percent since 2005, according to a review of statistics from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
La Mirada's low crime rate is attributed to the cooperative efforts of the City and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, crime prevention programs such as Neighborhood Watch, and active community support for crime fighting efforts.
Major crimes dropped by three percent in 2012. The number of total major crimes fell from 891 to 864.
Statistics detail the number of major crimes reported in the eight most serious crime categories: arson, 4; homicide, 2; rape, 4; robbery, 20; assault, 70; larceny, 491; burglary, 170; and automobile theft, 103. La Mirada experienced a drop in thefts and stolen vehicles in 2012.
Members of the La Mirada City Council are scheduled to review a report on local crime trends at a meeting this month.
"We appreciate the strong support we receive from the La Mirada City Council and members of the community," says Sheriff's Captain Patrick Maxwell. "Our crime prevention partnership is producing excellent results, and we will continue working with the community to make La Mirada an even safer."
For information on how to become more involved in crime prevention efforts, call the La Mirada Community Sheriff's Station at (562) 902-2960 or visit the City's website at www.cityoflamirada.org.
La Mirada Weekly Crime Report; Nine Residential Burglaries Plague Area
The following is the crime report for La Mirada January 21-27, 2013
Robbery-A robbery was reported near Foster Rd. and Marquardt Ave. The incident is under investigation.
Aggravated Assault-An assault was reported near La Mirada Blvd. and Tacuba Dr. A male suspect was taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Residential Burglary-Nine residential burglaries and one attempted burglary were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 13200 block of Edwards Rd. A window was shattered to gain entry into the residence. A burglary was reported on the 13200 block of Clearwood Dr. Entry was gained to the residence while it was being fumigated. An incident was reported on the 15900 block of Algeciras Dr. A security door leading to the garage was pried open. A burglary was reported on the 14400 block of San Ardo Dr. A door was pried open at the rear of the residence. An attempted burglary was reported on the 14100 block of Ratlifee St. The suspect attempted to gain entry by removing the screen of a bedroom window. Two separate burglaries to the same residence were reported on the 14800 block of Barnwall St. within a 12 hour period. Entry was made through a window. Electronics were stolen from a residence on the 14400 block of Plantana Dr. Entry was made through a kitchen door window. A laptop computer was reported stolen from a residence on the 14800 block of Tacuba Dr. A burglary was reported on the 14500 block of Gardenhill Dr.
Burglar Enters Unlocked Rear Door on Gardenhill; Weekly La Mirada Crime Report: January 14-January 20, 2013
The following is the crime report for La Mirada, California for January 14th-20th, 2013:
Aggravated Assault-An assault was reported on the 13200 block of Woodridge Ave. The suspect assaulted the victim with a shovel. The suspect was taken into custody by responding deputies.
Residential Burglary-Three attempted burglaries to residences were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 14400 block of Gardenhill Dr. Entry was attempted through an unlocked rear sliding door. An incident was reported on the 14500 block of Fairvilla Dr. Entry was attempted through the garage pedestrian door and window. An attempted burglary was reported on the 14300 block of Bluefield Ave.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary to a business was reported on the 14200 block of Valley View Ave. Entry was made by shattering a glass door. A safe was stolen but recovered on scene. The incident remains under investigation.
Thieves Steal Golf Cart; Weekly La Mirada Crime Report: January 7-January 13, 2013
The following is the crime report for La Mirada, California 1/7/13-1/13/13
Residential Burglary-Five burglaries and one attempted burglary were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 14200 block of Whiterock Dr. Collectible magazines and toys were stolen. A burglary was reported on the 13600 block of Woodridge Ave. Home fixtures were taken from the location. A burglary occurred on the 15200 block of Vanada Rd. Cash and jewelry were taken from the home. Various items were stolen from a residence on the 12000 block of Kibbee Ave. Computer equipment, cash, and jewelry were taken from the home. A burglary was reported on the 15900 block of Dalmatian Ave. The suspects gained entry by breaking in through the rear door window. An attempted burglary was reported on the 13600 block of El Espejo Rd.
Vehicle Burglary-Six vehicle burglaries were reported last week. DMV paperwork and a temporary driver's license were stolen from a vehicle on the 15700 block of Hayford St. Various items were taken from a vehicle on the 14900 block of La Mirada Blvd. A burglary occurred to a vehicle on the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. Various tools were stolen from the vehicle. Two separate burglaries were reported on the 12800 block of Breezewood Dr. and the 12400 block of La Pomelo Rd. There was no loss reported in either incident. An incident was reported on the 11800 block of Holston Ave.
Grand Theft-Diesel fuel was reported stolen from work trucks on the 16600 block of Knott Ave. A wallet was reported stolen from a business on the 13900 block of Imperial Hwy. Truck tires were reported stolen from vehicles parked at a business on the 17100 block of Valley View Ave. A purse was reported stolen from a restaurant on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd
Grand Theft Vehicle A golf cart was reported stolen from the 15500 block of Alicante Rd. A vehicle previously reported stolen from La Mirada was recovered on the 15400 block of Loretta Dr.
BREAKING: âInappropriate Affairâ Leads to La Mirada Public Works Director Steve Forster Removal from City Hall
La Mirada~La Mirada Public Works Director Steve Forster was escorted out of city hall on Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly engaged in an inappropriate affair with a fellow married female staff employee, Hews Media Group has learned.
Forster was physically removed from La Mirada City Hall at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, sources tell the La Mirada Lamplighter and Los Cerritos Community Newspaper.
Those same sources, who did not want to have their name revealed for fear of retaliation, is an employee with the City of La Mirada.
She said that Forster had engaged in a “long time affair” with a married female employee who works at the La Mirada Public Safety Department. The female involved in the alleged affair is also married to a male employee who directly reported to Forrester.
“He packed up his office and was escorted out of the building. He carried out boxes of his personal belongings and placed them in the back of his car,” the source said.
The Lamplighter was also told that the husband of the female employee involved in the affair confronted Forster about their relationship earlier this week.
“Steve Forster created a hostile work environment for years, and he finally got caught,” the source said.
Last week, La Mirada City Hall was reeling when Mayor Gabe Garcia was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he was involved in a car accident. Garcia was released on a $5,000.00 bail and will be reporting to court next month.
La Mirada Mayor Gabe Garcia Arrested for Reported DUI
Mayor crashes vehicle into parked car on Tacuba Drive
La Mirada~Hews Media Group is reporting that La Mirada Mayor Gabe Garcia was arrested last night, reportedly on suspicion of driving under the influence.
According to the La Mirada Lamplighter and the Los Cerritos Community Newspaper, Garcia struck a parked vehicle while driving his car along the 14700 block of Tacuba Drive near Biola Avenue around 10:30 last night, said Captain Pat Maxwell of the Norwalk Sheriff's Station.
La Mirada Lieutenant Pat Valdez told the La Mirada Blog that the Mayor received no special treatment and was booked by standard protocol, "The fact that he is a city councilman absolutely had no affect on how he was treated. He was treated no differently than anyone else."
Valdez said Garcia was held for eight hours was then released around 5:30 this morning, and was issued a citation for drunk driving.
Garcia more than likely will face a court appearance in the future, but we have no information on the court date at this time.
There were no other persons or moving vehicles involved.
The Mayor is seeking re-election for a second term as a La Mirada City Councilman on March 5th.
We will provide additional information as it becomes available.
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