Tag Archives: Councilwoman Mary Su

Walnut’s Aquatic Park

BY RAYMOND MENDOZA

 

Walnut – After numerous promises during the reelection campaign from council members Mary Su and Bob Pacheco, plans for an aquatic center are starting to come together in the earliest stages of development.

In addition to Pacheco and Su, council member Tony Cartagena also expressed support for the construction of an aquatic center and with a high amount of public interest. $250,000 has been allocated from the 2014/2015 fiscal budget to go toward schematics, testing, and advanced studies in order to make the aquatic center a reality.

However, even with $250,000 being set aside by the City during the first month of its new fiscal year, they are approaching the construction with caution. According to Community Services Director Mary Rooney, the City is just now starting to assess many different aspects of the aquatic center’s construction. Plans are so new that Rooney mentioned that the location, cost, and specifics are preliminary and that everything is up for consideration.

“There are various preliminary plans that have to go in place before we can actually design and build anything,” Rooney said.

To date, the City has met in closed session to discuss the possible locations for the aquatic center while Rooney mentioned that they have only spent an estimated $22,500 of the $250,000 on professionally drawn schematics from Aquatic Design Group.

The total cost of construction for the aquatic center is being considered, however Rooney mentioned that certain council actions, including the July 23 decision to sell a tract of land near Amar Road, are possible ways to fund the creation of the center.

With funding and nearly all of the aquatics center’s plans still under consideration, Rooney wanted to make sure that residents understand that the City is still pushing forward with its plans and that one way or another, the aquatic center will be built.

“We are moving on this,” Rooney said.

Rooney said that with the help of a Parks and Recreation sub-committee, plans will continue to unfold as the year goes on.

Claudine Stines, a Walnut resident who has long been a proponent of this project says, “It’s hard to imagine what started as a swimming pool for Walnut, has now expanded to the possibility of two pools (a competitive and recreational pool). Who knows? The concept could even include a performing arts amphitheater, a series of nature trails, and family-friendly open parks with additional parking…”

Stines also encourages residents to let their voices be heard by visiting her website at http://chn.ge/1e1ewyp, where comments are shared with members of the Walnut City Council.

 

 

 

 

Walnut: Election Season Kicks Off For Walnut

Walnut City Council Members Mary Su and Bob Pacheco

Council members Mary Su and Bob Pacheco held their campaign kick-off last week. (Photo By: Ariel Carmona Jr.)

BY ARIEL CARMONA JR.

Walnut – Three candidates filed their nomination papers for the Walnut City Council election, set for April 8. The three candidates include current Council Members Mary Su and Bob Pacheco, along with a new candidate, Betty Tang. The election season kicked off on Saturday, Jan. 11, when incumbents Mary Su and former assemblyman, Bob Pacheco, held their re-election campaign at their Lemon Creek Village shopping campaign headquarters.

A number of elected federal, state and local officials and other dignitaries were in attendance to support the pair of candidates seeking to retain their seats on the Council. Among those were U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park; U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerto; State Assemblyman Curt Hagman; and former U.S Treasurer, Rosario Marin. Also in attendance were Walnut Mayor, Tony Cartagena; Diamond Bar Mayor, Carol Herrera; Diamond Bar Mayor Pro-Tem, Steve Tye; and a majority of the members of the Walnut Valley School Board, the Walnut Valley Water Board and the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees.

“Mary is really a great person for this community,” said Congresswoman Chu. She added that Su’s dedication to the City goes back to when she founded the Chinese-American Parents Association for the Walnut Unified School District and continued through her days as President of the city’s Chinese-American Association. “This is a person who more than deserves being re-elected to the Walnut City Council. I think we are really lucky to have her.”

Marin said she has known Pacheco almost 20 years, and she has supported him at various positions throughout his political career.

Walnut Council Member Bob Pacheco

U.S. Representative, Ed Royce, talked about how much he supported Bob Pacheco (shown above) and Mary Su. (Photo By: Ariel Carmona Jr.)

“I am here because we want government that works. We yearn for government that really fulfills our needs. We are here for that government that supports our families and keeps them safe, and I am here to support Bob because I know he is an honest man, he’s trustworthy, and he takes his job very seriously. Everywhere he’s been he has done an excellent job,” said the former U.S. Treasurer.
“I know the citizens of Walnut have benefited from his experience, from his knowledge and his commitment. And I am here to support Mary Su because Mary has also been a magnificent public servant, and that’s all we want, we want public servants to do their best for our families,” said Marin.
Congressman Royce said he was very impressed with the work of the Walnut City Council. “There’s a lot of talent in this room, people who’ve served on the City Council for years, but think about some of the things that they did, particularly with Mary Su.”
“Mary Su used to be the Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission and in that capacity she had a certain vision, as did Bob Pacheco who was on the council at that time. They had a vision of having a rural environment here in the middle of Southern California where they would preserve those walking trails, preserve those riding trails and keep that atmosphere alive, and when things came up like those radio towers, they made sure they didn’t go up.”
Royce praised Su for her involvement with the Chinese-American Parents Association and for her efforts to strengthen the council’s relationship with Mt. SAC and the local school district. Royce also pointed out that Walnut has won award after award, including best schools, most livable city, and one of the safest cities to live in California, which Royce said was because of the City’s work with local law enforcement.

Su thanked all of the elected officials and other dignitaries in attendance for their support and friendship. “For many years we have had over 100 percent reserves in our budget. We didn’t cut a single service, we didn’t increase any taxes, and there are so many other things we accomplished, I just can’t name them all,” said an emotional Su, “Overall my heart is with the city of Walnut, I belong to Walnut, Walnut is my child, Walnut is everything to me, that’s why I am devoted to Walnut.”

Su enumerated a number of benefits that the city has seen since she assumed a seat in the Council including expansion of Grand and Temple Avenues, the restoration of City fireworks, collaborations with the local school districts, free services for seniors and many other projects.
“I will keep my promise again. No tax increases, continue to maintain high the quality life in Walnut, maintain high education in the City of Walnut, work together with Congress, the State Assembly and Los Angeles County to bring more resources to Walnut, to work together with each one of you, to listen to your opinion, your suggestions, your ideas to improve Walnut,” said Su.
“Bob’s been serving this community for 40 years. You have a man with experience, from state level, from his contacts, from the national level. You’re a very lucky city,” said Assemblyman Hagman.

Pacheco told the assembled crowd of supporters and residents, “My family grew up here, my daughter was born when we first moved into Walnut, and since that time I’ve been involved. I need your help again to make sure I get reelected and make sure I can continue the work I have started. The most important thing I see for this city is making sure that we get along and that we unite our resources so that we work together toward the proper ends.”

Sarah Armijo contributed to this story.

Walnut Council Nomination Period Open

Staff Reports
Walnut – The nomination period is now open for two seats for the Walnut City Council General Municipal Election set for Tuesday, April 8, 2014.
Two seats are up for reelection for a full term of four years. These two seats are currently held by Councilwoman Mary Su and Councilman Bob Pacheco. Pacheco was appointed this past July to fill former Mayor Tom King’s seat after he announced his retirement.
The City Clerk will issue nomination papers and candidate handbooks during this nomination period to potential candidates and will be available to guide candidates through the election process, according to City of Walnut officials. The nomination period closes on Monday, Jan. 14, 2014.
If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by § 10229, Elections Code of the State of California, according to the City of Walnut.
The election process can be explained in a few simple steps. A City of Walnut news release states that the first step is forming a volunteer based Voting Rights Act Group. The Group will advise the City on effectively providing election material, information, and assistance to limited English proficient voters. In addition, Group members and their organizations will help disseminate election information and encourage resident participation in City elections. The news release also states that the City of Walnut is required to provide election material and outreach in the following languages: Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog. Residents with an interest in serving on this group should call the City Clerk’s office at (909) 595-7543, ext. 311.
The City Clerk’s office will then mail sample ballot pamphlets containing a facsimile ballot and polling place information to all registered City voters, and will also issue ballots to vote-by-mail ballot registered voters.
After election results are final, the City Clerk then administers the oath of office to each Council Member at the second Council meeting in April.
Voter registration is available from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at http://www.lavote.net or by calling 1-800-815-2666. Voter registration forms can also be picked up at City Hall, the Walnut Library, and local post office.