Story Created:
Mar 11, 2010 at 1:02 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 11, 2010 at 1:02 PM PST
MONTEBELLO — Facing a budget deficit and with key positions in City Hall waiting to be filled, the two newest members of the City Council were sworn in during ceremonies Monday at the Montebello Senior Center.
Alberto Perez and Christina Cortez were elected to the council in the Feb. 23 recall election, replacing Kathy Salazar and Robert Urteaga.
Perez and Cortez join Frank Gomez and Art Barajas, who were elected in the regular November municipal election, meaning four of the five City Council members have less than four months experience.
Mayor Bill Molinari, who has been on the council for nearly 30 years, is the lone holdover on the council.
Cortez defeated three other candidates to replace Urteaga, and Perez defeated two other candidates to take Salazar’s seat.
The two ousted council members were targeted for recall after voting to give Athens Services a 15-year exclusive contract in July 2008 to haul all trash in the city.
Previously, Athens had the city’s contract for residential trash pickup but independent operators, who led the successful recall effort, could negotiate with local businessmen for trash pickup in the commercial and industrial sectors in the city.
City Councilwoman Rosemarie Vasquez, who provided the third vote necessary for the Athens contract, was defeated in her bid for re-election in November.
Former Councilwoman Mary Anne Saucedo-Rodriguez did not seek re-election in November.
Besides a looming budget deficit, the city has two major positions to fill at City Hall. Former City Administrator Richard Torres retired last fall. Former Huntington Park Police Chief Randy Narramore was hired in December to serve as interim city administrator.
One of his first actions as the city’s top administrator was to place Police Chief Dan Weast on administrative leave. Weast and the city had been sued by 13 current police officers who accused Weast of playing favorites within the department and catering to white officers.
Weast and the city later reached a separation agreement.
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