| Election Watch 2007 - Huntington Park, CA |

| Huntington Park's Mayor Noguez Surrounded by Criminals Bell Gardens City Councilman Mario Beltran was convicted in late March, 2007 for "filing a false police report ending a week-long trial that touched on sex, alcohol and racial slurs." Beltran was Mayor John Noguez's campaign manager leading to the March 6, 2007 elections. Beltran's pending case was hidden from the public by the Noguez team, all the while painting opponents as convicted felons in mailers. Councilman Beltran is also a legislative aide to State Senator Ron Calderon, who represents southeast cities. Calderon endorsed and helped fund the Noguez team. In December 2005 Edward Escareno, was convicted for "Grand Theft" of public funds, a felony, while he was a councilman, a case that Noguez hid from the public. Escareno managed Noguez's campaign in 2003. Both are proteges of Rosario Marin, ex-US Treasurer. |