Cerritos Republican Club News

Click on any picture to see an enlarged view.

January thru July 2017

Annual Barbecue
July 11, 2017

The Cerritos Republican Club held its annual barbecue at Cerritos Park East. Lew Gentiluomo and Bob Crockett cooked tasty hamburgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers. Other members brought buns, relishes, chips, fruit, drinks, and baked goods. There was plenty to eat.

These are the pictures that Candy Yee took at the barbecue.

Barry Rabbitt

Don Knabe

Benjamin Ao, Joan Pylman, James Kang, and Tom Kolodziej

General Meeting
May 9, 2017

At the May 9 General Meeting, the scheduled speakers could not make the meeting. The meeting became a discussion of the recent City Council election results and how the Club can improve our endorsement and support process. After much discussion among the members, it was moved and approved that there was a consensus to propose changes in the ByLaws or Standing Rules to specify how endorsements would be considered and approved. The proposed changes would be agendized for a future meeting.

Mayoral Transition
April 26, 2017

At the City Council meeting of April 26, 2017, there was excitement in the air for the recognition of outgoing council members Carol Chen and George Ray which was followed by the reorganization of the new city council. Before the meeting was called to order, Candy Yee took a few pictures of the attendees.

Her first picture included Lynda Johnson, Naresh Solanki, and Brad Beach.

George Ray with his two lovely granddaughters who would lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

Carol Chen with her husband Tony.

Mayor George Ray initiated the recognition and presentations for outgoing Councilwoman Carol Chen. Several elected officials presented to her plaques, certificates, and pins.

CRC Board Members Brad Beach, Becky Lingad, and Dixie Primosch recognized Carol Chen.

They presented her with a plate.

After the presentations, a video of Carol's nine year tenure was shown ending with this slide.

Frank Yokoyama took his oath of office. Then roll was called for the new city council.

City Clerk Vida Barone declared that the office of Mayor/Chair was open. Frank Yokoyama nominated Grace Hu and, though not needed, Mark Pulido seconded the nomination. Vida Barone thought that Mark Pulido had made the nomination. Jim Edwards nominated former Mayor Pro Tem Naresh Solanki for Mayor as a "natural progression." Since Grace's nomination was made first, then hers was voted on next. Jim Edwards was the first to vote, and he voted, "No." Then Grace Hu said, "Well, I cannot refuse that. I accept the nomination and thank you very much for your trust. Thank you," thus voting for herself. Mark Pulido voted, "Yes." Naresh Solanki voted, "No." Finally, Frank Yokoyama voted, "Yes." Thus, Grace Hu won the nomination for Mayor/Chair by a 3-2 vote.

After thanking the Council for nominating her, Mayor Grace Hu announced that the office of Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair was open. Frank Yokoyama nominated Mark Pulido. Naresh Solanki nominated Jim Edwards. Mark's nomination was voted on next. Jim Edwards voted, "No." Grace Hu voted, "Aye." Mark Pulido voted, "Aye." Naresh Solanki voted, "No," and Frank Yokoyama voted emphatically, "Yes!" Thus, Mark Pulido became Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair.

After the nameplates were changed, Jim Edwards made a comment that it was tradition in Cerritos and neighboring cities for the Mayor Pro Tem to move up the ladder. Newly elected Councilmembers would fall in line according to the number of votes they garnered in the election. Grace Hu and Frank Yokoyama would have been fourth and fifth in line respectively. I feel that this is a sad day. What are we saying to tradition? What we've done tonight was wrong. What was done was not done in the true spirit of the Cerritos I've lived in. I am disappointed in what was done.

Grace Hu thanked Jim Edwards for his comment and replied that "Things have changed. It's not a sad day for the City. It's a great day for the City. We have new Councilmembers to work for the City and work for the people. We are elected and got majority vote for Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem...."

When it came time for the newly elected councilmembers to introduce their family, Frank Yokoyama was first. He talked thirteen minutes, interspersed with much emotional sobbing, thanking his family and supporters. Grace Hu followed with a two minutes comment of gratitude. She then adjourned the meeting and invited everyone to the celebration at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

After adjournment, Candy took a few more pictures.

Bev and George Ray

Grace Hu and supporters.

Tony Chen; Cathy Liu; Carol Chen; and Stephanie (Chen), Kelvin, and Johnny Liu.

Cerritos Municipal Election Total Returns
as of April 26, 2017

General Meeting
February 15, 2017

The February general meeting was a Forum for the three Republican candidates for the two open seats on the Cerritos City Council---Bruce Barrows, Grace Hu, and Chuong Vo. Member Dean Grose served as moderator.

Each candidate made opening remarks and then Dean asked a few questions that the Board members posed for each candidate, followed by questions from the audience. Here are the questions that were asked, but this author will not record any responses because I don't want to misquote the candidates.

1. How would you reduce the budget deficit?
2. Property crime seems to be on the rise. How would you reduce crime?
3. What budget item would you reduce or eliminate?
4. How should Cerritos keep the State from taking our land and money?
5. How much does the Magnolia Power Plant cost and what would you do with it?
6. We have about 30 thousand trees in Cerritos. Would you let homeowners remove dead trees at their own expense?
7. What Republican values would you apply in the City Council?
8. How would you raise revenue?
9. What is the biggest source of the City's budget deficit?
10. What is your best and worst decision you have made while serving for the City?
11. The State is requiring larger Calpers contributions. How should the City respond?

Each candidate then made closing remarks. A brief recess followed.

The three candidates and non-members were asked to leave the room while the remaining members conducted a business meeting to determine whom the Club would endorse.

After a motion was made and amended, it was decided to endorse any candidate(s) who received at least two-thirds approval from the members in attendance. In a secret ballot, Chuong Vo was the only candidate to be endorsed.

The Club then voted on how much money would be donated to each candidate's campaign.

The meeting was then adjourned.

General Meeting
January 10, 2017

At the first general meeting of the year, members of the Board led a discussion about the budget crisis of the City of Cerritos. For the past seven or eight years, the City has been working with a deficit of six to eight million dollars a year. Our reserve which had been quite large was now at about forty million dollars. If the City continues at this rate, the City will be bankrupt in another six to eight years. What can be done?

The Board believed that the upcoming City Council election will be extremely important in solving this deficit spending problem. It would be very important to have new council members who could bring ideas to assure that the budget is balanced and that services do not suffer.