Letter to the Editor: Questionable endorsement

Dear Editor:

Thank you for keeping us up to date and informed on what is going on with our Downey City Council. As a longtime resident of Downey, I rely on the Patriot for local news. I look forwarad to getting your paper every Friday.

I am writing because I am concerned about the upcoming election in District 1. I read in your paper that the Former Downey Mayors Coalition is supporting Elvira Meraz. What are the former mayors thinking?

Haven’t we been through enough with what just happened in District 3 and the recall of Catherine Alvarez? Why are the former mayors, including the current mayor Claudia Frometa, supporting a woman who had a mutual restraining order issued against her by a court of law? That is not becoming of a future Downey city councilperson. If she is elected, this will bring further embarrassment to our city.

Thank you again for informing us about the backgrounds of the candidates. We must be diligent and do our homework to have as much information about candidates as possible. I would think that the former mayors would know better.

I wonder if the Former Downey Mayors Coalition is running backgrounds and checking court records before they agree to endorse a candidate? It sounds like they are not and that is disappointing. We certainly do not want to end up in another expensive recall. Politicians should be held to a higher standard.

This situation reminds me of the Luis Marquez situation where his ex-lover showed up at a city council meeting and spoke during non-agenda comments about his paternity of her child. Do we really want the ex-wife of Ms. Meraz’s husband showing up to Downey city council meetings to discuss the inner happenings of their family? Why would the former Downey mayors put us in this situation?

I hope they read this and care to answer.

Elizabeth Hernandez
Downey