Letter to the Editor: Why I'm Voting for Ernie Arnold

For the first time in my 50 years, I have gotten actively involved in local politics.  I am closely monitoring the City Council race, and I am learning that “political intrigue” is not confined to the national scene. 

Like me, I am sure you have received several candidate mailers by now. Many of them list the individuals and organizations that have endorsed the candidate. As voters, we can glean important information from these endorsements.

Drs. Marina Khubesrian and Richard Schneider proudly display the endorsements of Congressman Adam Schiff and State Assemblyman Antony Portantino.  I suppose this is intended to impress us with the fact that these candidates have “friends in high places.”  My interpretation is that they have “friends in other places”—outside of South Pasadena. 

Our issues are unique to our community. The last time I checked, Glendale is not threatened with a freeway extension through the middle of their town. What do Adam Schiff’s priorities have to do with ours? Very little. I am more distressed than impressed by these endorsements.

I also notice that Art Salinas has raised nearly $10,000 for the race, including $1,000 from the South Pasadena Police Officers Association—the single largest contribution to his campaign. Mr. Salinas wants you to elect him to your City Council, which is responsible for negotiating salaries and benefits with the public employees we pay with our tax dollars. When the police come to the City Council for their fourth consecutive annual 3 percent cost of living increase, how do you suppose Mr. Salinas will vote? Just Asking.

We need a City Council free of outside influence and insider dealing. That is why I am enthusiastically supporting Ernie Arnold. Ernie was born and raised here, has been civically active for decades and has no aspirations beyond protecting South Pasadena’s rights as an independent city. I am convinced that Ernie’s loyalty is to the citizens of South Pasadena—not to a broader district, or a state agency or a union.

Ed Ternan