| Rosario Marin Endorses Romo & Molina; Makes Questionable Statements. Friends and donors to Marin's '04 US Senate campaign get city contracts. March 7, 2005 Editor, WatchOurCity.com Huntington Park, CA - Former US Treasurer and ex-mayor of Huntington Park Rosario Marin sends out a campaign mailer piece endorsing the slate of Elba Romo and Andy Molina during the last weekend before election day on March 8, 2005. It is curious that Rosario finds it necessary to state that she knows who "speaks truths and who speaks half-truths". She is trying to insinuate that candidates other that her endorsed slate are not truthful (see WatchOurCity.com's report of questionable campaign statements of Romo and Molina that stretch the truth). Rosario states that she knows "who has integrity and who doesn't". She also states that she knows "a couple of people who, while well intentioned, do not have the skills, the experience, or the knowledge to assume the responsibilities of elected office". Based on the deceit, half-truths and outright dishonest statements made by Elba Romo and Andy Molina on recent campaign brochures, it appears that Marin is talking about non-other than her own endorsed candidates. Why the deceit, Rosario? Marin also mentions that she wants to "ask you to vote for two very fine people whose vision and respect for our city I share: Andy Molina and Elba Romo". What respect? If Romo/Molina do not respect the Catholic church enough, and use blatant church images for political gain, do they respect the voters? WatchOurCity.com has previously reported on the nexus between Rosario Marin, her endorsed slate and the team's campaign manager. To summarize, Marin, councilman Mario Gomez (campaign Manager), Romo and Andy Molina are not only all members of the same catholic church, St. Matthias parish in Huntington Park, but they all are registered Republicans, with the exception of Elba Romo. Records with Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's office indicate that Romo was a registered Republican, and just very recently registered as a Democrat, presumably to increase her chances of winning a city council seat in this mostly Democrat-registered city. Marin must know a thing or two about integrity. Consider: During the 2003 election campaign, Marin took time from her official duties as US Treasurer to appear in campaign literature of the slate of Noguez, Hernandez Gomez. All three won council seats. Did John Noguez, Ofelia Hernandez and Mario Gomez owe Rosario Marin anything? Once in office, Noguez, Hernandez, Gomez and Escareño vote to award city contracts to friends of Rosario Marin who were also campaign contributors to both Marin's failed US Senate race and to her endorsed slate. Marin's friends who gave campaign contributions to both Marin and to the slate are: - George Cole of Oldtimers Foundation - Victor Caballero of Fiesta Taxi - Vicente Ortiz of Meta 2000 (gave thousands to Rosario's campaign; non to the slate). - Francisco Leal, attorney. - Leonardo's Night club on Alameda Street Other contributors included Waste Management, Consolidated Waste and Tacos Mexico. Once Rosario's team was in office, and controlled the majority council vote, who gets awarded sweet city contracts by Escareño, Noguez, Hernandez, and Gomez? Loya votes on some of these contracts as well. Evidently, Rosario's friends, of course, benefited: - George Cole of Oldtimers Foundation ($4 million dollar transportation contract) - Victor Caballero of Fiesta Taxi (with George Cole, transportation contract) - Vicente Ortiz of Meta 2000 ($30,000 cash gift for a 1 day celebration) - Francisco Leal, attorney (City attorney contract, worth at least $300,000 per year and selected in closed door session, to boot; and a City Lobbyist Contract of $3,750 per month that Leal presented to city council while presiding as City Attorney, conflict of interest be damned, or the appearance of it at least; why worry about such things when your friends in city council won't mind, neither does Rosario, apparently). - Leonardo's Night club for possible Card Club (Noguez placed a closed session agenda item trying to hide from public scrutiny the fact that certain real estate negotiations were really discussions for a card club; Apparently, a State law imposing a moratorium on card clubs was either overlooked in Noguez's zeal to help Leonardo's, a $5,000 contributor to his campaign slate, or is confident that his good friend and city attorney Francisco Leal, whom the city is paying for "Gaming matters", could pull off a card club permit; after all, Francisco Leal reportedly is also a consultant on gaming matters to the City of Commerce on card casino issues). Is it any coincidence that George Cole and Victor Caballero are prominent and proud endorsers of Elba Romo? What interests are they out to protect? Consider Rosario Marin's previously endorsed candidates: In 2003, Rosario backed John Noguez, Ofelia Hernandez, and Mario Gomez. Mayor John Noguez. A dishonest hypocrite (see just one of the many reports WatchOurCity.com has on Noguez). Noguez is sponsoring candidate Elba Guerrero and incumbent councilman Ric Loya, and paying for their lawn signs; more than the $1,000 campaign limit ordinance Noguez himself imposed. Ofelia Hernandez was unemployed and still is, had not held a regular job in years and reportedly does not even have a high school diploma. Her appetite for travel is right behind Escareno's. And public record reflects that she votes exactly as John Noguez and Ed Escareño tells her to. Is she Rosario's puppet? Mario Gomez, well his dad has a paint company, but Mario doesn't seem to be gainfully employed. Apparently, Mario has plenty of free time to devote to managing Romo/Molina's campaign and for putting up all those pesky Romo/Molina signs that seem to sprout like weeds after a good rain and go up reportedly even where they are not wanted or given permission to place. The City Clerks' office has confirmed reports of many complaints by residents. If Mario had a real job he would be spending a fraction of the time on Romo/Molina's campaign. He doesn't need a job. City Council pay is a cushy $1,023 per month, plus family health benefits, and Redevelopment Commission Pay is a juicy $1,950. Mario, Ed Escareño and Ofelia Hernandez even gave themselves a sneaky pay raise in January 4, 2004, when the residents were still sleepy-eyed after New Year's celebrations. Mario claims he's a religious family man. But that did not stop him from deceiving the voters into voting Measure L into law, and other questionable ethics and patterns of behaviour. During the 2001 election, Rosario Marin supported Ed Escareño. And look at what he's done with the city's public funds. Escareno's apparent misuse of public funds is well documented by WatchOurCity.com. Rosario Marin must have known that Escareño was unemployed at the time. Never mind that Escareno's candidate statement filed with the city clerk's office states he was a "Businessman". The voters were deceived: He was no businessman. In fact, for most of councilman Ed Escareno's tenure in city council, he has been reportedly unemployed until about last April '04, when he publicly announced that in fact he had found employment. That must explain his excessive absence from city council meetings (3 missed meetings alone this year, according to the City Clerk's office, and getting paid for them to boot). Rosario Marin, too called herself a "Businesswoman" during her US Senate race primaries. She was sued in Sacramento Superior Court for her alleged use of the term. Reportedly, the court found that in fact she was no "Businesswoman" and could only use the term "Former US Treasurer" on the California Primary Ballot of '04. Did Rosario, or any of her stable of elected officials (Noguez, Hernandez, Gomez) ever once attempt to put a stop Escareno's apparent misuse of public funds for cell phone use, travel costs, selecting city attorney reportedly in closed door session, awarding other contracts to Rosario's friends? Not once. Not even after WatchOurCity.com made it public back in March 2004. Not anyone. No one ever questioned the ethics. Why would friends tell on each other? Never mind the public funds, nor the public itself. Never mind the public trust. Not even after the Los Angeles Times reported about WatchOurCity.com's efforts at reporting on Escareno's misuse of public funds. Months went by, almost a year, before city council passed a Cell Phone use policy. Credit has to be given to council member Ofelia Hernandez for paying some attention to WatchOurCity.com's reports on Escareno's out-of-control cell phone use. Enough attention, apparently, to be spooked into surrendering her city-issued cell phone, but not nearly enough to compel her to stop a mugging of public funds from taking place. In Sunday's 3-7-05 edition of the Spanish language daily newspaper La Opinion, Elba Romo is quoted as stating that she was responsible for asking Ed Escareño to pay back highly questionable cell phone and travel expenditures. Really, Elba? One more lie and deceit by Elba Romo? According to Marin, Romo has integrity, and she wants your vote. Source of Data: 1. Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's Office; 2. Campaign brochures by Elba Romo/Andy Molina; 3. Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2004; 4. La Opinion, March 6, 2005; 5. Public Record Information, City Clerk's office, Huntington Park, CA. . |
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