Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 12, 2014

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 12, 2014 

BECK, CHANDLER, TAY WIN ELECTION 

From Arcadia’s Bestafter four previous unsuccessful lack of familiarity among voters 


Left to right, Tom Beck, Roger Chandler and Sho Tay 


 For the first time in years, Arcadia 
residents will have two 
first-time City Council Members 
starting new four-year 
terms on Tuesday, April 15 — 
Tom Beck and Sho Tay. Joining 
them to make up the trio of candidates 
elected Tuesday night is 
longtime Council Member and 
former Mayor Roger Chandler 
who returns after a mandatory 
two-year hiatus. The two losing 
candidates were Burton Brink 
with 46% of the vote (2,807 
votes), and Paul Van Fleet with 
463 votes (less than 8%). 

Recently retired lawyer Beck, in 
his first campaign for any public 
office, was widely expected to 
win one of the three seats and 
probably one of the first two, 
but he surprised many by dominating 
every voting precinct 
in the city in Tuesday night’s 
election results, accumulating 
nearly 64% (3,871) of the votes 
on the 6,085 ballots submitted. 
At his election night party at 
his large home in northern Arcadia, 
Beck attributed his victory 
to his wife’s support and 
her involvement in Assistance 
League of Arcadia and other local 
organizations, and to Mayor 
Mickey Segal’s decision not to 
run for re-election. Segal, who 
declared Beck a victor very early 
on when results showed Beck 
with more than 2,000 votes after 
only three of seven blocks 
of precincts reporting, steps 
down next Tuesday along with 
termed-out Council Member 
Bob Harbicht. Segal and Harbicht 
were at Beck’s house Tuesday 
night along with the only 
two current mid-term Council 

Members who remain on the 
Council, Gary Kovacic and 
Mayor Pro Tem John Wuo.
Ironically, as much as Sho Tay 
campaigned on a platform of 
increasing voter turnout, the 
five-time candidate handily 
beat newcomer Burton Brink by 
eight percentage points (54% vs 
46%) and by 468 votes despite 
one of the lowest turnouts ever 
for a City Council election. Tay, 

campaigns, also wound up with 
only three fewer votes than veteran 
Chandler (3275 vs 3278) 
and garnered more votes than 
Chandler in three of the seven 
groups of voting precincts. 

Only about 20% voted in the 
all-mail-in ballot election, with 
some voters observed turning 
in ballots in person at City 
Hall just 10-minutes before the 
8 p.m. deadline despite having 
about a month to submit ballots. 
The lowest turnout in recent 
years was just 16% in 2008, 
an election that also involved 
Chandler when he and Kovacic 
were essentially the only two 
candidates running in a two-
seat election that should not 
have been required except that 
a first-timer turned in an application 
minutes before the deadline 
and then never participated 
in the campaign. 

At his election night party 
hosted by Kin Hui’s Singpoli offices 
in Arcadia, Tay told media 
and supporters that he intends 
to follow through on his campaign 
pledges to work to unify 
the various cultures in town, to 
support and promote local businesses, 
and to find financial savings 
for the city and residents. 
He also thanked his wife Sherry 
Tay for her support over the 
many challenging campaigns. 
With a potential total of 18,255 
(up to three votes per ballot), 
the total number of votes cast, 
13,694, would seem to indicate 
that almost all voters cast 
only two votes each, or that as 
many as more than a third of 
all voters, or more than 2,000, 
employed the “bullet” voting 
strategy of voting for only one 
candidate while the other 3,500plus 
voted for the maximum of 
three choices. Van Fleet said 
early in the campaign that he 
would spend virtually no money 
on his campaign and accept 
no donations, and he stuck to 
that, not even paying the nearly 
$2,300 to include a photo and 
statement on the election ballot. 
That strategy combined with his 

apparently resulted in his small 
number of votes. Hours after 
the election, he posted on his 
blog here at ArcadiasBest.com 
that he will run again in 2016. 

But while his was a campaign 
of austerity, there was a general 
minimalist approach to the entire 
campaign coupled with a 
puzzling overall voter and community 
apathy for an election 
resulting in the most change on 
the Council in decades and with 
four of the five candidates all 
newcomers. Yet there was only 
a couple meet-the-candidates 
forums when there are usually 
five or six. The only time 
the campaign registered a blip 
on the radar screen was when 
Tay’s campaign raised the eyebrows 
of some residents and 
the Arcadia police when several 
Tay supporters — male and 
female from student teens to 
retirement age Caucasian and 
Chinese-American volunteers 

— went door-to-door offering 
to provide free stamps to voters 
to encourage them to mail 
their sealed ballots. A handful 
of ballots were handed to campaign 
workers of all ages, genders, 
and race who offered to 
put them in a mailbox for the 
residents. When a few residents 
in northern Arcadia called 
police about the young male 
Chinese-American volunteers 
coming to their door, Arcadia 
police initiated citywide robo 
calls and text alerts and then 
conducted interviews with Tay 
and his campaign supporters. 
As the investigation was turned 
over to the District Attorney 
last week to determine whether 
any election laws were violated 
or any charges should be filed, 
Tay revised the get-out-the-vote 
initiative by making free stamps 
available to anyone to pick up at 
two local businesses. Now Tay 
will be sworn in as a City Council 
Member next Tuesday along 
with Beck and Chandler. 
– By Scott Hettrick 
NASA’S DR. WONG RECOGNIZED AT ARCADIA 
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND MORE By Joan Schmidt 

Dr. Wong and ACA Members 


At a recent Arcadia City Council Meetings, Arcadia’s Dr. Edward Wong was presented 
the Mayor’s Certificate of Commendation for his work with NASA and Mars Rover Curiosity. Dr. 
Wong had received high honors from NASA and Space Flight Mechanics for his critical work on the 
guidance system that guided the Mars Rover Curiosity to its highly successful rendezvous with Mars. 
His awards had been presented during the 24th AAS/AAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting in Santa 
Fe, New Mexico. 

Dr. Wong, a humble man, acknowledged this project was “a big team effort-many talented 
engineers and scientists from JPL/NASA and CAL TECH assisted in the project.” Dr. Wong also said 
it was so gratifying to work on a project for six years that is millions of miles away and be successful. 

After Dr. Wong’s presentation, Mayor Segal announced that a Duarte Councilmember came 
to Arcadia’s Council Meeting to make a presentation also. 

Councilmember Margaret Finlay came to the podium and spoke of Arcadia Council Member Bob 
Harbicht’s role in the City of Duarte before relocating to Arcadia. Bob had served on the Planning 
Commission and one term on the Duarte City Council. The Finlays friendship with the Harbichts 
goes back many years. Margaret’s parents, Ed and Helen Ferguson also attended the meeting to see 
their dear friend honored. I knew Bob Harbicht and his wife Patsy have done so much for the City of 
Arcadia, but I never realized he also did great things in Duarte. 

Congratulations to both fine men on the well-deserved recognition they received. 

Arcadia Police Blotter 


For the period of Sunday, March 30th, through Saturday, April 5th, the Police Department responded to942 calls for service of which 125 required formal investigations. The following is a summary report ofthe major incidents handled by the Department during this period. 

Sunday, March 30: 

1. At approximately 1:03 a.m., an officer working DUI Saturation Patrol conducted a traffic stopon a vehicle on Live Oak Avenue at El Monte Avenue. Upon contact with the driver, the officer detecteda strong odor of marijuana. An investigation revealed the 26-year-old Chinese male was driving underthe influence of marijuana. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
2. Around 5:35 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Macy’s at the Santa Anita Mall, 400 SouthBaldwin Avenue, regarding a theft report. The 16-year-old Chinese male suspect concealed a pair ofpants on his person and exited the store without making payment. An investigation revealed he alsostole from JC Penney. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
Monday, March 31: 

3. Just after 12:00 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Wistaria 
Avenue regarding two unknown Black males in the backyard. The victim discovered his electricity had 
been turned off and observed the suspects looking through his window. After a short foot pursuit, the 
20 and 21-year-old suspects were located in the 300 block of West Lemon Avenue. An investigation 
revealed the suspects attempted to force entry through a rear window. Officers located a third suspect, 
a 19-year-old Asian female, waiting inside a vehicle parked in the victim’s driveway. All three suspects 
were arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
4. Around 8:30 p.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 000 block of West Orange Grove 
Avenue regarding a suspicious subject looking through the window. The juvenile victim was taking 
a shower and noticed a shadow of a male peeking through the window. A witness reported seeing 
an unidentified male subject running from the property. Officers conducted an area check, but no 
suspects were located. 
Tuesday, April 1: 

5. Around 12:50 p.m., an officer responded to the 1200 block of Ewell Lane regarding two subjectssmoking while sitting on the curb. The officer discovered one of the subjects, a 19-year-old Hispanicmale, was on probation, in possession of concentrated cannabis, and in violation of a restraining order.
He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. The other subject, a 17-year-oldHispanic female, was cited for possession of tobacco paraphernalia and released in the field withoutincident. 
6. Just after 2:40 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of West Palm Driveregarding a theft report. An unknown Hispanic male stole a package from the victim’s front porch andfled in a white van described as an older domestic model. The van was driven by another unknown malesubject. The incident was recorded on video surveillance. 
Wednesday, April 2: 

7. At approximately 9:47 a.m., an officer conducted an enforcement stop on a vehicle for a brokentail light in the area of Baldwin Avenue and Gate 8 of the Santa Anita Race Track. The officer discoveredthe driver was never issued a license. The 30-year-old Hispanic male was cited in the field withoutincident and his vehicle was left legally parked. 
8. Around 11:36 p.m., an officer made contact with a suspicious vehicle partially blocking thedriveway of a residence in the 1000 block of Paloma Drive. A search of the vehicle revealed the driver, a43-year-old Hispanic male, and passenger, a 39-year-old Hispanic female, were in possession of stolenproperty, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. A records check revealed the driver also hadthree outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Both suspects were arrested and transported to the ArcadiaCity Jail for booking. 
Thursday, April 3: 

9. Shortly before 1:30 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a GMC truck with three 
Hispanic male occupants in the area of Hacienda Drive and Santa Anita Avenue for the passengers 
not wearing their seatbelts. A search of the vehicle revealed they were in possession of possible stolen 
jewelry. The officer discovered one of the passengers had an outstanding DUI misdemeanor warrant. 
All three subjects were arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
3 

10. At about 4:46 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of Colorado 
Boulevard and Second Avenue for expired registration. A records check revealed the driver, a 38-yearold 
White female, had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The passenger, a 20-year-old Black 
male, was in possession of methamphetamine and had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. The 
passenger was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking, and the driver was cited 
and released in the field without incident. 
Friday, April 4: 

11. Around 2:58 p.m., an officer responded to the area of Colorado Boulevard and Old Rancho 
Road regarding a man lying down on the side of the road. Upon contact with the 30-year-old Hispanic 
male subject, the officer discovered he was under the influence of alcohol. The subject resisted arrest 
and attempted to assault an Arcadia Fire Captain. Ultimately, he was arrested and transported to the 
Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
12. At approximately 3:02 a.m., an officer responded to Motel 6, 225 Colorado Place, regarding 
a male subject screaming for help. An investigation revealed the 44-year-old White male was 
hallucinating. The officer discovered the subject was on felony parole and in possession of 
methamphetamine, heroin, and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested, transported to the Arcadia City 
Jail for booking, and placed on a parole hold. 
Saturday, April 5: 

13. Just after 1:50 p.m., an officer responded to a solo vehicle traffic accident in the area of Santa 
Anita Avenue and Campus Drive. An investigation revealed the driver was under the influence with 
a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08 percent. The 26-year-old Hispanic male was arrested and 
transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 
14. At about 10:25 p.m., officers conducted an enforcement stop on a bicyclist for riding with no 
pedal or wheel reflectors in the area of Huntington Drive and San Rafael Road. The 37-year-old male 
was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and transported to the Arcadia 
City Jail for booking. 
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