City Council hopefuls line up in Cerritos, Norwalk, La Mirada, Lakewood

By Brian Hews

With the 2012 Presidential campaign just two weeks behind voters, candidates who are hoping to be elected to local city council slots in the March, 2013 Municipal Elections have began filing nomination papers in Cerritos, Norwalk, La Mirada, and other local communities.

In Cerritos, voters will be electing two city council members. Current Mayor Jim Edwards is barred from seeking a third four-year term due to the cities term limit laws. ABC School Board Member James Jooghan Kang is the only candidate to have filed and qualify for the ballot as of Wednesday afternoon, according to City Clerk Vida Barone. Also taking out nomination papers are incumbent City Councilwoman Carol Chen, and challengers George Ray, Kiyong Ma, and Frank Aurelio Yokoyama.

In La Mirada, current Mayor Gabe Garcia and Councilwoman Pauline Deal have taken out nomination papers. In addition, residents Randy Gray, Connie Balloue, Steve Keithly and Andrew Sarega have began the formal process to have their names appear on the March 5th balloting.

In Norwalk, City Clerk Theresa Devoy said that Incumbent Mayor Cherie Kelley and Councilman Mike Mendez have both taken out nomination papers as has current Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board President Daryl Adams, and community leader Candy Martinez.

In Lakewood, incumbents Diane DuBois, Steve Croft, and Todd Rogers have all filed and qualified for the March ballot. No challengers have taken out papers as of Wednesday at noon according to city spokesman Bill Grady.