DOWNEY — In a surprising move, the Downey city council last week selected fringe candidate Timothy Horn to fill the vacant District 1 seat until voters can select their next representative in November.

Not much was known about Horn when he was chosen by the city council on a 4-0 vote. He was sworn in Thursday.

In an interview with the Downey Patriot, Horn, 60, says he has lived in Downey for 50 years since the age of 10. He attended high school at Pius X (now St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy). He is unmarried, with no children.

After a 30-year career as a tax specialist, Horn says he entered an “early retirement.”

He says he began to get involved with the community back in the 80’s.

“We used to have a VITA program, Volunteer Income Tax [Assistance], where you assist people who cannot file their returns,” said Horn. “I got my training; I was going to college at the time. And then from there, I took on the central role - which includes Long Beach, Lakewood, parts of Orange County all the way up to Huntington Beach, and some of the cities just north here, Pico Rivera and Santa Fe Springs – and I became almost like the director on a public basis; not paid, it’s a community service.”

He says he also helped with canned food drives and elderly assistance, before his career took him away from his volunteer work.

Horn wouldn’t return to community service until 2021 when he was appointed to the Public Works Committee by then Mayor Pro Tem Blanca Pacheco.

“I got back into the city trying to do whatever I can,” said Horn.

Now sitting in her former seat, Horn says he’s looking for a “higher standard.”

“Sometimes I’m harsh…I want to see improvements,” said Horn. “I’m looking for better things than we’re doing now.”

At his interview with the City Council, Horn focused specifically on issues of public safety and parking.

“There are a lot of areas where parking is the problem,” said Horn.

On public safety and crime, Horn says he’s trying to “think ahead.”

“When it happens, then it’s too late,” said Horn. “If I can put lighting, or a crosswalk, or figure a way that someone doesn’t get hurt crossing the street, I want to do it now, and give a possibility that that person does not get hit, even killed.”

Horn enters at an extremely critical time for the city, with several department heads – including longtime City Manager Gilbert Livas - having left over the last year. He will now be included in the discussions around and ultimate hiring of a new city manager, which he says is the “key issue” and shouldn’t “be taken lightly.”

“When you get internal people leaving at the high levels – the mid manager and the top manager, and then the employees – it’s like cutting the head off,” said Horn. “Who do I follow? Is something wrong? Everybody’s bailing ship. Is it the city council, are they the problem? Because we have no leadership.

“I’m coming in late, but I’m really taking a hard clash at the city manager.”

Horn acknowleded he is a “swing vote” on the current council.

“I know there’s some politics going on. Nobody knows me; I’m not a political figure,” said Horn. “I’m going to do what I think is right, my constituents think is right, and for the city at large.”

At this time, it is up in the air if Horn will run for the seat come the election later this year.

“I’m using this as an apprenticeship right now,” said Horn. “Tell me what the problems are, let’s see if I can work it out.”