Remembering Miguel Sanchez: Emotional night in the streets of Bell pays tribute to a "kind, loving, unassuming" community leader. Backers "united" to vote for Miguel and his "Justice For Bell" team of Mario Rivas and Nestor Valencia. Election Tuesday.

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Photos from Randy Economy Copyright.

By Randy Economy
www.Economy4ABC.Blogspot.com
Sunday, March 6, 2011
11:20 p.m.

Bell, CA

I just returned from an emotional and gut wrenching tribute to Miguel Sanchez who lost his life on Friday after a short battle with the flu.

Candidate Mario Rivas interviewed by KCBS News.

The young community leader is a candidate in Bell's historic city council election on Tuesday.  Tonight those who loved him the most gathered at his home and to Pray the Rosary, and then marched through the streets of Bell to City Hall for a tearful tribute and candlelight vigil.

Speaking at the vigil included Miguel's mother, brother, friends, and Bell City Council candidates Mario Rivas and Nestor Valencia. 

Sanchez is running with his two friends in Tuesday's election. 

Tonight was about keeping "Miguel's Dream Alive" to clean up his "fight" to clean up Bell City Hall. 

Even though Sanchez has passed away, his name will remain on Tuesday's city ballot.  Hundreds of people in attendance stood in a misty light rain totally united in solidarity in their support for Sanchez, Rivas and Valencia.


I was taken back to hear the raw emotion from Miguel's mother, who spoke passionately about how her son and how he became "emotionally run down" and "stressed out" over "horrific" campaign tactics waged against her son, Rivas and Valencia from rival political action committee "BASTA."  

Outside the Campaign headquarters from the Justice for Bell supporters of Miguel Sanchez, Nestor Valencia and Mario Rivas.  Randy Economy Photo.

Miguel's mother specifically mentioned BASTA political operative Leo Briones was being a "contributor" that led to the stress that she say's ultimately claimed her sons life at the age young age of 34.  In Sunday's Los Angeles Times, there was several mentions about the stress of the campaign, and how it took its toll on the normally "upbeat" and "positive" Sanchez.

A TRIBUTE to Miguel Sanchez inside his campaign headquarters.

Medical autopsy reports show that Sanchez died from a severe case of the flu.  He had also suffered from diabetes according to friends.

Funeral services have been set for this coming Thursday and Friday.  I will post the special details in the next day or so.  There was a tremendous turnout from the local and national media members.  Seen at the vigil were news vans from ABC Eyewitness News, NBCLA, KCBS/KCAL, Fox News LA, KTLA 5, Telemundo and several others.  Check back on Monday, I have lots of video  and will be posting it here via You Tube.

RIP.

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