Letter to the Editor: Why we're supporting Dorothy Pemberton

Dear Editor:

We are working to help elect Dorothy Pemberton for Downey City Council as the District 3 representative.

Why would we do that? Well, as we all saw before the recall, each city council member’s vote affects the entire city. At this time, Downey cannot afford to elect an unknown.

We know Dorothy. We encouraged her to run for city council. We have watched her give her life and time to our city. She has worked tirelessly for 30 years in leadership of numerous civic organizations such as PTA President, Soroptimist, Gangs out of Downey, the PTA Helps Room and many others. She is endorsed by retired Downey PD Captain Mark McDaniel along with current Mayor Claudia Frometa and former Mayor Rick Rodriguez. She is a team player and gets things done.

Gil Legaspi is an unknown. He originally campaigned as a police officer when he is in fact a reservist for LAPD, working only a few days a month. He issued campaign literature in uniform, standing in front of the Downey mural; this was also misleading. He has in the last few weeks changed his political party affiliation, implying originally that he was a Republican, when he is listed as a Democrat and now has re-registered as “Declined to State”. Who does that in the middle of a campaign?

Additionally, he has voted in only one of the past eight major elections.

Recent revelations regarding his relationship with District #5 Downey City Council member Mario Trujillo are concerning. Over 60% of his campaign contributions have come from outside of Downey. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has appointed him to the L A County Tax Assessment Appeals Board. Who is he trying to be? Not the well connected, commercial investment real estate broker and property manager he is.

We do not need someone in this seat that is looking for a leg up politically or financially. We’ve seen that before. We need our next city council member to be there for us, for the many needs of the residents of Downey.

Dorothy has been here for us for years. Dorothy knows Downey and that’s what we need at this important time.

Vickie Smith, Trish Morris, Gail Rabe, Monica Gross, Dee Bacus Cheryl Van Rensselaer, Dania Janczak, Bonnie Travers

Downey