Story Created:
Feb 24, 2010 at 10:02 PM PST
Story Updated:
Feb 24, 2010 at 10:03 PM PST
INGLEWOOD — Two additional ballot nominations papers have been taken out for the June 8 election amid political heat against a prominent city official and allegations of early electioneering by candidates seeking to replace former Mayor Roosevelt Dorn.
For some time now, City Administrator Timothy Wanamaker, who some perceived to have been a close ally of Dorn, has been on the end of sustained public criticism.
Wanamaker, whose April 2008 hiring was opposed by Councilwoman Judy Dunlap, has come under fire by Dunlap and some residents for alleged mismanagement of the city’s finances.
During Tuesday night’s council meeting’s public comment section, Wanamaker was criticized by 71-year-old activist Howard Ely, a financial planner and eight-year resident of District 2 for inheriting a budget surplus of $15 million that is now down to $5 million.
“Do the math,” Ely said. “The man does not know what he’s doing.”
Speaking to The Wave after the council meeting, Ely said he had no personal animosity toward Wanamaker but urged the council to “cut its losses and get rid of him.”
“The man is incompetent,” Ely said. “He doesn’t have any experience in management, especially finance. It’s not personal, but if you’re over your head you hire someone to take that position and he hasn’t done that.
“He gave raises last year with no way of paying for it; a 3 percent bonus with 3 percent coming this year. Where is the money coming from? How did he get the job and why was he supported? The answer is Dorn.”
Wanamaker could not be reached for comment on Ely’s accusations.
Asked if he is making the allegations on behalf of Dunlap, Ely flatly denied the suggestion.
“No,” he replied. “I live in her district and I will vote for her. To my knowledge she’s the only one who comes prepared and asks hard questions.”
Meanwhile, another well-known activist, Diane Sambrano, whose barbs are usually directed at all council members, accused Councilman Danny Tabor and Dunlap of “electioneering” with respective council initiatives they put forward on recommending a project labor and local hiring agreement, residential sound installation and waiving insurance fees for volunteer enrichment classes.
“You’ve been talking about the labor agreement for 10 years and nothing has happened,” she said.
“I hope all these initiatives are not there just to get votes.”
Meanwhile, Larry Spring and Audrey E. Lehman took out nomination papers to replace Dorn, bringing the number of candidates seeking the position to seven so far.
Others include City Treasurer Wanda Brown, Councilman Ralph Franklin, former interim Councilwoman Lorraine Johnson, Solomon Muez and Velma Anderson.
The nomination period ends March 12, not March 2, as The Wave previously reported.
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