(November 17, 2009, 6 p.m. PST. Lynwood, CA)-
By Randy Economy
Talk about election barn burners and controversy, this one has it all!
The November 3rd election has Lynwood City Councilman Ramon Rodriguez winning reelection by JUST TWO VOTES. But it's his past residency ties to Cerritos that are being called into question by political observers and legal experts.
I had previously blogged that Bell Gardens Councilman Daniel Crespo's FIVE vote win over challenger Luis Arias was the closest race here in the county of Angels from this past months election... but I stand corrected.
Next door in politically hot Lynwood, it now appears that controversial Incumbent Councilman Ramon Rodriguez has beat challenger Iris Pygatt for the 3rd and last slot by just TWO votes. Pygatt, a past City Treasurer in Lynwood, took a scant 3 vote lead over Rodriguez last Tuesday, but those votes "flip flopped" when more votes were tallied last Thursday by the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorders Office.
http://www.lynwoodtruth.com/ takes an AMAZING look into the Cerritos/Rodriguez connection and is worth checking out. Where do the Rodriguez'es really live? In part, this is a summary from that site:
"Ramon and his wife Guadalupe Rodriguez left their beautiful home and comfortable life in Cerritos to look for "better business opportunities" in Lynwood California. (Below is there home on Ray Street in Cerritos off of 195th Street).
"Ramon and his wife Guadalupe Rodriguez left their beautiful home and comfortable life in Cerritos to look for "better business opportunities" in Lynwood California. (Below is there home on Ray Street in Cerritos off of 195th Street).
They were introduced to the "lucrative" political life by Arturo Reyes. In 2001, Ramon Rodriguez registered to Vote in Lynwood even though he was living Cerritos to vote and to run for the City Council.
To improve his odds for wining, he registered eight members of his family to vote in Lynwood. They listed the backroom of Ramon's hardware store as their home address, seen here."
Here are the updated results:
LYNWOOD CITY GENERAL
COUNCILMEMBER
VOTE FOR NO MORE THAN 3
MARIA T SANTILLAN 1,146 19.14%
JIM MORTON 1,099 18.35%
RAMON RODRIGUEZ 812 13.56%
IRIS PYGATT 810 13.53%
EDWIN R JACINTO 711 11.87%
PATRICIA CARR 707 11.81%
WALTER A LOPEZ 703 11.74%
TOTAL PRECINCTS 15
PRECINCTS REPORTING 15
REGISTRATION 20,923
BACKGROUND:
Rodriguez has served on the Lynwood City Council since 2001, with a two year absence from December 2005 and his reelection to council in October 2007. In November 2002, he was appointed by members of the Lynwood City Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term. In 2005, he was appointed a second time to serve as Mayor. Upon returning to Council in October 2007, he served as Mayor Pro Tem until December 2007.
Rodriguez has served on the Lynwood City Council since 2001, with a two year absence from December 2005 and his reelection to council in October 2007. In November 2002, he was appointed by members of the Lynwood City Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term. In 2005, he was appointed a second time to serve as Mayor. Upon returning to Council in October 2007, he served as Mayor Pro Tem until December 2007.
If there is a recount, it will be up to Pygatt to pay for all related expenses. Stay Tuned, this one ain't over.
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