Dear Editor:

I don’t understand your recent article about the three candidates for Downey City Council in District 3. (“Valle Says Legaspi, Trujillo Visited Him Days Before Starting Campaign” 9/28/23)

All three candidates, Dorothy Pemberton, Ernesto Valle and Gil Contreras Legaspi met with each other before filing to run for city council. All three candidates hoped to be the consensus candidate supported by the other two for District 3.

Isn’t democracy built on dialogue and consensus? Were these candidates not trying to avoid a costly and potentially negative campaign by trying to select one candidate amongst themselves for this election?

It didn’t quite work out for them, as all three stayed in the race for City Council, but your insinuation that something foul was at play is just wrong.

Let’s not be naïve, this kind of political maneuvering is commonplace in most elections. None of these candidates violated any laws.

As a Downey resident we should be excited that we have three great candidates running for office.

As for me, I am voting for Gil Contreras Legaspi.

Jesus Torres
Downey

Dear Editor:

I am disappointed to see that our local elections have once again devolved into mudslinging rather than each candidate choosing to focus on the positives of their own campaign.

All District 3 candidates met with each other before the election but it seems the only one being attacked is Gil Legaspi. I find it hypocritical that someone would criticize Gil for doing something every candidate in this race participated in, especially since we all know these meetings happen all the time.

There is nothing wrong with candidates meeting and discussing the election with each other, as it simply makes sense to try and get a potential competitor on your side.

What I do find wrong, however, is people coming to my home and claiming Gil is not a “real” police officer. When Gil is on duty (he takes the same calls as full time officers), bullets do not discriminate. The fact is that he chooses to spend his spare time putting his life on the line to keep people safe. How many people can say they do that?

These attacks are insulting to Downey residents, and an unfortunate reminder of Downey’s politics. I will be voting for Gil Legaspi this November because we need someone new on the City Council who is prepared to do the job as an independent thinker.

Daysi Verdeja
Downey