Candidates for Norwalk City Council emerge ahead of filing deadline

Norwalk-La Mirada schoo board member Margarita L. Rios, Norwalk Vice Mayor Cheri Kelley, and Cerritos College trustee Dr. Sandra Salazar all pulled nomination papers to run for city council.

NORWALK – More potential candidates have pulled nomination papers in order to possibly campaign for three open seats on the Norwalk City Council.

On March 7, 2017, Norwalk residents will vote to fill two, regular four-year terms and a single two-year term. The two-year term is a special election to replace former Councilman Marcel Rodarte who retired in June.

According to City Clerk Theresa Devoy on Wednesday, only Harvey Cardenas has filed his nomination paperwork to officially run for the four-year term. However, five other residents have pulled nomination papers for the four-year term seats, including incumbent Vice Mayor Cheri Kelley, Jack Aduna, Tony Ayala, Marcel Mercado, and Dr. Sandra Salazar, who was just elected to serve another term on the Cerritos College Board of Trustees.

Ayala has not filed his nomination papers yet, but the longtime Norwalk resident announced he is running for City Council via a Facebook page, citing local endorsements and requesting others to join in supporting his bid.

Devoy said five candidates have pulled papers to run for the two-year term, including former City Council candidate Candy Martinez, Thomas Vernola, Ken Menchaca, Alberto Uribe, and current Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board Member Margarita L. Rios.

In addition, Norwalk Planning Commissioner Jennifer S. Perez filed a candidate statement to explore the possibility of raising funds for campaign, but she has not yet pulled papers to run.

The window to file nomination papers officially opened on Monday, Nov. 14. and closes on Friday, Dec. 9.