LA County Superior Court Judge Stephen O'Neil threw out a challenge to the City Council election, saying he found insufficient evidence of voter fraud.
The City Council approved a proposal Tuesday that would place a voluntary cap on the amount candidates spend in the April municipal election. The limit will be 50 cents per resident.
The City Council skipped over five runners-up in April's council election and instead named Planning Commissioner Gary Kovacic to replace the late Councilman Dennis Lojeski.
Geri Fasching (wife of former councilman George Fasching), S. H. Wen (past president of the Arcadia Chinese Association) and 2 other residents filed a lawsuit contesting the election of Sheng Chang, alleging his campaign workers paid for votes and knowingly registered people who could not legally cast a ballot.
Arcadia's City Council was unable to elect a Mayor at Tuesday's Council meeting, with 5 members splitting their votes 3 ways. Several council members are interviewed.
Incumbents Sheng Chang and Barbara Kuhn failed in their bids for re-election to City Council as voters gave first-time candidate Gail Marshall, former Mayor Roger Chandler and council appointee Gary Kovacic the nod for the next four years. Gino Roncilli came in well ahead of former Mayor George Fasching for the two year seat. Voters also gave thumbs down to Measure A, a ballot initiative that would have added 2 percent to the current 5 percent utility tax for the next four years.
Sheng Chang, Mary Young and Barbara Kuhn were elected to the Arcadia City Council. The number of votes and percentages received are given for each candidate.
In a stormy first session, Mary Young and Sheng Chang, both newly elected to the council, were appointed Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem by identical 3-2 votes.
The city's long standing budget woes have emerged as the No. 1 concern of the nine potential candidates for four open seats in the April 14 elections. Deadline to file is Friday.
City Council approved a 12% pay increase for City Clerk June Alford. The raise comes just as city voters are considering changing the city clerk's office from an elected one to an employee position.