The Huntington Park Metropolis Council has chosen an area civil service commissioner to switch former Councilmember Esmeralda Castillo, whose seat was declared vacant after a probe decided she was not dwelling within the metropolis.
Wednesday’s appointment comes a number of days after a California appeals courtroom issued a keep on a Los Angeles Superior Courtroom choose’s restraining order that had prevented town from filling the seat.
Castillo requested the restraining order as a part of a civil lawsuit she filed towards town in February, through which she claims she was illegally faraway from workplace.
Her lawyer, Albert Robles, mentioned he was not stunned concerning the appointment — and claimed town was violating his consumer’s due course of rights.
“Choose Barbara A. Meiers of the Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom immediately and unequivocally cautioned the Metropolis Council to not appoint a alternative and in the event that they did so, it will be ‘at their very own peril,’” he mentioned in a written assertion. “But regardless of this judicial warning, and regardless of a number of members of the general public trying to alert the Metropolis Council throughout public remark, they proceeded in identified defiance.”
Huntington Park officers mentioned they’re dedicated to due course of and transparency. In addition they say they respect Castillo’s proper to hunt judicial assessment of the council’s determination.
“Nevertheless, you will need to make clear that the council’s motion to declare the seat vacant was taken in accordance with longstanding state and municipal legal guidelines, which require elected officers to dwell within the metropolis whereas serving in public workplace,” the assertion learn. “This willpower adopted public complaints and an unbiased investigation carried out by the Huntington Park Police Division. The investigation — primarily based on documentation, verified proof, and witness statements — substantiated that the previous councilmember now not resides within the [city].”
By appointing a brand new council member, Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores mentioned town was upholding its legal guidelines and the pursuits of its residents.
“Any try to discredit this authorized course of is an assault on our democratic establishments and we should not stand for it,” he mentioned.
Former Huntington Park Metropolis Councilwoman Esmeralda Castillo, photographed in Los Angeles on April 3.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
No less than 29 candidates sought to fill the vacant seat. The council’s eventual choose was Nancy Martiz, a member of the Huntington Park Civil Service Fee that advises town on equitable hiring practices.
Her biography posted on the metropolis’s web site says she “brings a robust group basis and over 15 years of private and non-private sector expertise to the Council.”
Martiz, in response to town, graduated from South Gate Excessive College in 2004 and holds a double bachelor’s diploma in authorities and American research from Smith School. She additionally earned a grasp’s diploma in public administration and coverage from Cal State Lengthy Seaside and has labored for the South Gate metropolis lawyer’s workplace and Los Angeles mayor’s workplace, in response to her bio.
Martiz couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
Her appointment is the most recent wrinkle within the ongoing authorized dispute over Castillo’s controversial removing from workplace on Feb. 18, when the outcomes of town’s residency investigation had been revealed to civic leaders in a closed-door assembly. The council subsequently declared her seat vacant on Feb. 24 and sought candidates to switch her.
Two days later, investigators with the L.A. County district lawyer’s workplace executed search warrants on the properties of then-Mayor Karina Macias, Councilman Eduardo “Eddie” Martinez and Metropolis Supervisor Ricardo Reyes. Search warrants had been additionally executed on the properties of two former council members, a contractor and a advisor.
The warrants had been a part of what’s been dubbed Operation Soiled Pond, a probe into the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds allotted for a $24-million aquatic heart that hasn’t been constructed. Nobody has been charged.
Robles mentioned Castillo’s removing was not solely illegal however politically motivated, as a result of she had filed a proper grievance with town towards three council members and town supervisor.
“Right here, defendants not solely acted as choose, jury and executioner, however to additional spotlight defendants’ self-directed unjust political energy seize, [they] additionally carried out the investigation,” Castillo alleged in her go well with.
Andrew Sarega, the lawyer who was employed to supervise town’s inquiry, mentioned Huntington Park police investigators appeared into Castillo’s residency months earlier than she filed her grievance.
He mentioned a grievance was additionally filed in August with the L.A. County district lawyer’s workplace, which declined to take the case after it decided the problem was a civil matter, not a felony one, in response to an e mail obtained by The Occasions.
Huntington Park authorities say they launched their investigation into Castillo in November, after town supervisor acquired complaints alleging she was not dwelling within the metropolis.
The investigation included surveillance, court-approved GPS monitoring and search warrants at Castillo’s Huntington Park residence and her mother and father’ dwelling in South Gate. Investigators additionally interviewed 5 witnesses, together with Castillo, in response to Sarega.
He mentioned investigators tracked Castillo’s automobile for a month in January and located that she had solely stayed on the Huntington Park residence as soon as. Another person was dwelling there, however Castillo had mail despatched there, too, Sarega mentioned.
Robles mentioned his consumer had been caring for her ailing mother and father whereas sustaining a full-time residence in Huntington Park, which he mentioned is permitted below state and metropolis election legal guidelines.
Meiers, the Superior Courtroom choose, issued a restraining order towards town on April 4 — prompting officers to file an enchantment. California’s 2nd District Courtroom of Attraction granted the keep this week, simply days earlier than town’s 60-day deadline to fill the seat and keep away from what would have been a expensive particular election.
