Town Council Vows to Battle Graffiti, Other Crimes

THE REGION — Promising to tackle graffiti, gangs and crime, the seven members of the newly created Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council held their first meeting Tuesday, four days after being elected.

The council, representing the 11,000 residents of the unincorporated county area near the three cities, is made up of Joan Schmidt, David Hall, Richard Brown, Stanley Trinaystich, Carolyn Ziegler, Yvonne Bullock and Paul Diffley.

“Our goal as a board is to draw this community together,” said Hall, who was elected chairman by the other council members. “I think we have made some inroads and positive steps in that direction (while campaigning) in the last few months.”

The town council will serve as an advisory body to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. It will not have the power to tax or appropriate money, but will offer advice to the supervisors on such matters as planning and law enforcement.

“We’ll speak with one voice and not for each of our neighborhoods,” said Bullock, a school outreach worker. “We will let the county know we care about the issues.”

Election officials said 140 residents voted Friday out of the 319 who registered to vote with a local election committee. Voting was restricted to residents 18 and older who registered at Maxwell Elementary School by May 31.

Although the unincorporated county area the council represents has a substantial Latino population, neither Latina candidate, Reyna Diaz nor Rosa Carillo, was elected from the field of nine. Voters selected seven candidates.

“Each one of us was surprised at the outcome,” Hall said. “Each one of us is aware of the need for across-the-board representation.”

The council, he said, would look at ways to ensure representation of the entire community, including expanding its membership.

Through a drawing of straws Tuesday night, the council decided Schmidt, Hall, Ziegler and Bullock would serve four-year terms, while Brown, Trinaystich and Diffley will serve two-year terms. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. June 29 at Maxwell Elementary School cafeteria, 733 Euclid Ave.

Information: (818) 358-1191, Ext. 254.

Vote Totals

Joan Schmidt, 44, vice principal: 111

David Hall, 44, architect: 99

Richard Brown, 35, store owner: 90

Stanley Trinaystich, 56, retired accountant: 90

Carolyn Ziegler, 52, speech writer: 88

Yvonne Bullock, 51, school outreach worker: 87

Paul Diffley, 56, teacher: 86

Reyna Diaz, 36, wedding coordinator: 81

Rosa Carillo, 28, assistant manager of clothing manufacturer: 55