By Brian Hews
The political landscape around Hawaiian Gardens took a major shift this week when it was learned that longtime and well known community leader Mary Lou Landis has decided that she will be a candidate in the upcoming city council election slated for this November 5.
Hews Media Group-Community News confirmed that Landis recently moved into a popular mobile home park on Carson Street in Hawaiian Gardens in order to meet residency requirements and has reregistered as a voter in the municipality that is less than one square mile in size.
Landis worked for many years in Hawaiian Gardens for Tri-Cities Regional Medical Center and Hospital as a community public affairs executive.
Landis told HMG-CN in an interview on Wednesday that she will be meeting with city election officials on Thursday (July 25) to pick up here official nomination papers.
Landis will have to unseat one of three well known incumbents if she plans to join the five member city council later this winter. She will be running against current city council members Barry Bruce, Reynaldo Rodriguez and Michi Oyama Canada.
“Hawaiian Gardens is where my heart is,” Landis said.
“I will be a candidate and I want to be a city council member who takes care of the needs of our seniors,” she said.
Other challengers include Phil Ahn, Priscilla Kwan, Valerie Mason, Mariana Rios and Adrian Avilar, according to city clerk Sue Underwood.