BREAKING NEWS: No Candidates File to Run Against Norwalk Incumbents Rodarte, Shryock, or Vernola

By Brian Hews

For the first time in its 57-year history, three Norwalk incumbents, the Mayor, Mayor pro tem, and councilman will run unopposed in the March 2015 election.

The City Clerk reported at 1 p.m. that no candidates filed papers to run against Norwalk incumbent Mayor Marcel Rodarte, Mayor pro tem Leonard Shryock, or Councilman Luigi Vernola.

The lack of candidates filing to run against the incumbents will save the city a reported $130,000.

When contacted by HMG-CN Councilman Luigi Vernola said, “This the first time in the history of this great city that council candidates have run unopposed. I want to thank God for giving me the chance to serve Norwalk and its residents for another four years. We have tremendous challenges ahead, but with the vote of confidence Norwalk residents have given me, I look forward to tackling those challenges head on and improving the quality of life for all in Norwalk.”

Mayor pro tem Leonard Shryock said, “I thank God for the opportunity to serve for another four years, it is quite a compliment from the community, they are telling us we are doing a good job and I am looking forward to building on what we have started.”

HMG-CN left a message with Mayor Rodarte, but he had not returned the call at time of publication.

Cerritos Candidates Pull Papers

In Cerritos, nine candidates pulled papers by todays deadline according to Cerritos City Clerk Vida Barone.

The list includes Sultan Ahmad, former Cerritos Mayor Jim Edwards, former ABC Board Member James Kang, former Cerritos Mayor Grace Hu, current Mayor Mark Pulido, Meninberbir Singh Sethi, current Cerritos Planning Commissioner Naresh Solanki, ABC Board Member Sophia Tse, current Cerritos Planning Commissioner Chong Vo, and former candidate Frank Yokoyama.

Election day is March 3, 2015