Anti-mansionization candidates snag seats on Arcadia City Council. Peter Amundson received 4122 votes and April Verlato received 4077 votes to become the two new city council members. Bob Harbicht received the third highest number of votes.
Arcadia election heating up: candidate forum next week. There are two open seats on council for 4-year terms and the City Clerk position is open for a 4-year term.
Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson defends his speaker of choice at next month's Mayor's Community Breakfast. He has invited H. B. London, of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes same-sex marriage. Residents and activists upset about this choice are organizing two counterevents of their own. Activists are planning a "peaceful" demonstration March 4 outside Arcadia Community Center and a bar-b-que at Pasadena's Unitarian Church for all families. Focus on the Family was founded in Arcadia by Dr. James C. Dobson and believes marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Amundson said the event is not about sexuality but about the Arcadia family.
Arcadia Mayor Peter Amundson's selection of Reverend H. B. London, Jr. to speak at the community breakfast on March 4, is drawing criticism from some residents and gay-rights activists. London is a vice president of ministry outreach at Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes gay marriage. Some residents are asking Mayor Amundson to reconsider and they feel Focus on the Family delivers hateful messages. The city estimates it will pay between $5000 and $5500 for its contribution to the event, which will include the speaker's plane fare.
Arcadia resident Burton Brink loses bid for 49th District Assembly seat in the midterm election on November 6. Ed Chau (Democrat), the incumbent, won over challenger Burton Brink by 68.85 percent.
Arcadia's election picks up steam. At last Wednesday's candidate forum, Measure A, which could repeal the Utility Users Tax (UUT) and the Saving Arcadia Ballot Initiative (rational development standards on new construction), dominated the questions from the audience at Arcadia Public Library. Includes photos and statements from each candidate.
The City of Arcadia's contribution to the cost of the 2011 Mayor's Community Breakfast will total $4795. The event drew protestors upset about the mayor's choice of Reverend H. B. London, of conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, as keynote speaker. London received a standing ovation.
Feature Q & A with Arcadian State Assembly candidate, 49th District, Burton Brink. He has a background in law enforcement (Los Angeles Sheriff Department and Arcadia Police Explorer).
Five running for three Arcadia City Council seats. The five are Tom Beck, a retired Pasadena attorney, Sho Tay, a retired businessman, Roger Chandler, a former Arcadia City Councilman, Paul Van Fleet, an insurance agent, and Burton L. Brink, a sergeant in Los Angeles County Sheriff's Crescenta Valley Station. The completely mail-in ballot election will be on April 8. See hard copy in VF City Council Elections (2014).
H. B. London, Jr., of Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian group that opposes gay marriage, spoke at the 2011 Mayor's Community Breakfast, about the importance of compassion and unconditional love in the family. Outside there were some 90 protestors that support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.