Six residents apply for City Council District 2 vacancy
DOWNEY – Six residents have filed applications to fill the vacancy on the Downey City Council created by the resignation of Sean Ashton last month.
The six applicants include (in alphabetical order): Anthony Felix Jr., Donald LaPlante, Mario A. Guerra, Patrick Owens, Jeremy Shedd and Victoria Valdez.
The City Council is expected to interview each of the candidates publicly before voting one into office to represent District 2. The person chosen will finish Ashton’s term which runs through the end of this year.
Each applicant was asked to detail their education, community involvement, qualifications, reasons for applying, and priorities if chosen to serve on the City Council.
Anthony Felix Jr.
Felix listed his occupation as a public administrator and said he has lived in Downey for four years. His education history lists a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cal State Los Angeles and a doctorate in public administration from the University of La Verne.
Felix’s community involvement includes speaking to Columbus High School students, helping residents retain their housing, and helping micro-businesses apply for grant funding.
Felix said he is qualified to serve on the City Council because he is an “expert in ethical governance at the local government level with several years of research on the council-manager relationship.”
“I have a passion for public service for the purpose of improving the quality of life for my community,” Felix wrote in his application. “Being a member of the council will allow me to further my mission [in] positively shaping the future of our community.”
As far as his priorities, Felix listed “affordable housing strategies,” “increase in funding” and “further advance the quality of TK-12 grade education.”
Felix ran for Congress in 2020 as a Democrat and finished in fourth place.
Donald La Plante
La Plante served on the Downey Unified School District board of education for more than four decades, from 1979 to 2020. He has lived in Downey since 1960.
His education includes a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from USC, a master’s degree in education from Pt. Loma Nazarene University and teaching credentials from Cal State Long Beach. La Plante is now retired but previously worked as a teacher.
La Plante said his extensive history as an elected school board member qualifies him to serve.
“I have served seven times as Board President and have led the Board in three VERY successful searches for a CEO (Superintendent) and would bring consensus building skills to the city Council for this short-term appointment,” La Plante wrote.
La Plante said he is interested in serving on the City Council because “The City needs someone with practical experience as an elected official, with no axe to grind nor ambition for long-term service on the City Council. With my experience as an elected official, service as a director of the state and county school board association and the Measure S Citizens Oversight Commission, I can hit the ground running and be an asset to Downey.”
Asked to list his three priorities, La Plante wrote:
“1.) [Ensure] District 2 has a qualified and knowledgeable representative, who has previously been elected to public office by the citizens of the community and area.
2. Being willing to work as a team player to select a new City Manager. Selecting a CEO (City Manager) is the most important task a City Council ever has to do.
3.) Act professionally and with civility as a member of the City Council.”
Mario A. Guerra
Guerra is former two-term Downey City Council member and mayor. He currently serves as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, appointed by President Obama.
An insurance broker by trade, Guerra has an economics degree from UCLA. He was ordained as a deacon in 2002 and has volunteered as a chaplain with the Downey Police Department for the last 20 years.
Guerra’s community involvement includes work with the Downey YMCA, Gangs Out of Downey, Downey Regional Medical Center board of directors, West Downey Little League, DJAA, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, and more.
“My past experience and record as Mayor and City Councilman in Downey gives me valuable experience that could assist our city at this time,” Guerra wrote. “I do not plan on changing any past decisions nor instigating huge items but I can hopefully bring my local government experience and past good record to our community.”
Guerra said he wants to serve on the City Council to give District 2 residents a voice.
“While I am sure our current council would be able to help them I do think adding a full council would be very helpful in serving them at this time,” Guerra wrote. “It literally would give residents an experienced ombudsman to help navigate city services right away, without on-the-job training needed.”
Guerra said “constituent services and responding to residents” would be his top priority, as well as “helping the other council members achieve progress on some of their stated goals.” He also would work on veteran’s advocacy programs.
Guerra included with his application a letter to the City Council.
“Since I would not be eligible to run again, I feel that my appointment would not be seen as political and could possibly help our community representation from District 2 during this time,” Guerra wrote. “I feel I could also help each of you as a cheerleader for our city and council…I do not have any political aspiration nor personal agenda and I look at this as an opportunity to bring a little institutional history back into our city, even for a short period of time.”
Patrick Owens
An electrician, Owens is the current chair of the Downey Planning Commission, appointed by Ashton. His education history lists stints at Cal State Long Beach and Los Angeles Trade Technical College although it’s unclear if he graduated.
In addition to his work on the Planning Commission, Owens’ community involvement includes appointments to the Green Task Force and the Public Works Committee.
Owens states he is qualified to serve on the City Council because his professional background “places me on Public Works Contracts, and Labor Representation and Administrative Work daily, similar to City Business.”
“As a Lifetime District 2 resident, my current and past appointments have both given me privelege [sic] to represent District 2 residents and the City in positive outcomes,” Owens wrote in his application. “I wish to continue.”
Owens said his priorities would be to “Continue Strong Business Development for District 2 and the City of Downey” and to strengthen the city’s work with youth and young adults.
“The Youth and Young Adults are our future, lets give them plans, information, contacts in order to be successful as they are the future.”
Jeremy Shedd
Shedd is a senior advisor in supply management for Southern California Edison. He has lived in Downey since 2016.
Shedd has a bachelor’s degree in history and geography from UC Berkeley and is currently studying for a master’s in business administration from the USC Marshall School of Business.
Shedd’s community involvement is limited in Downey but he has volunteered at the Los Angeles Mission, at tree planting events though SoCal Edison, and he was an active member of the Pasadena Jaycees prior to the pandemic.
Shedd said his business background makes him qualified to serve on the City Council.
“I strive to apply a broad business perspective to my analysis and problem solving, skills essential to succeed as the district 2 councilperson,” Shedd said. “I have a constant drive for continuous improvement that is proven in small business and corporate work environments and will translate well to the city council’s office.”
Shedd said he wants to address neighborhood issues such as homeless encampments, litter, and low-flying aircrafts that are rerouted “away from wealthier neighborhoods and over our homes at all hours of the day.”
His priorities include “community safety,” “economic development,” “financial stability,” “improved external partnerships” and “unity despite a diversity of opinions.”
Victoria Valdez
Valdez is a retired police officer and currently works as an intensive behavior intervention consultant. She has lived in Downey for 27 years.
Her education includes a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies and vocational arts from Cal State Long Beach and advanced POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training) certification.
Valdez’s community involvement includes volunteering at Maeday Rescue and GHETTO Rescue, non-profit dog rescues, and Sunburst Youth Academy, which provides mentorship to at-risk girls.
“I proudly served the city of Bell Gardens for over 26 years in law enforcement which allowed me to connect and work in partnership with the community, city council, city manager, public works, parks & rec, fire department and local courts,” Valdez wrote. “I also worked closely with all of the schools, neighborhood watch, businesses and the clergy.”
Valdez said she wants to serve on the City Council “to be a fresh voice with new ideas to elevate the community. I have a passion for public service and I am a natural at bringing people together. I am an ordinary woman with leadership skills and the desire to work together to keep Downey moving forward in a positive manner.”
Her priorities are to “collaborate and work as a team player in making the community safer” by creating outreach programs for people experiencing homelessness and/or mental health issues.
Valdez also would like to create a no-kill animal shelter and support small businesses.