ASNC Elections -- November 24, 2008
Open Board Seats and the Declared Candidates

Open Board Seats and the Declared Candidates

Here's a map to help you determine your community:

(NOTE: Any names in italics below are Write-In Candidates, and will NOT appear on the printed ballots):

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Geographic representatives: (2 year terms - 2 seats open for Mt. Washingon, all others 1 seat) . • Hermon Pablo Lopez -- .... plopez89@hotmail.com I've been a resident of Hermon all my life. Currently, I live here with my wife and three children. With our Arroyo and our hills, Hermon is a very unique place in Los Angeles. Therefore, I feel passionate about volunteering in our community. I am running for my 2nd term representing Hermon.  I feel privileged to have been able to participate through the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council.  I learned a lot listening to other's opinions and experiencing the process to better our community.  I would love the opportunity to serve again through the ASNC. Guillermo Marquez - write-in candidate -- .... tepechitlan1978@yahoo.com Serving in the U.S. Army, raising a two year old, being a loving husband and earning three college degrees have all taught me that focus, discipline, hard work and help from Family, Friends and Neighbors goes a long way.  If we share the same values such as meaningful education, community safety, united neighborhood, responsible citizens and multicultural involvement, I ask for your vote and support to serve on our Neighborhood Association. I look forward to meeting you and serving as your representative. Thank you. Erika Soto - write-in candidate -- .... wrtback@yahoo.com I have resided in the Hermon Community my entire life. Throughout the years I have witnessed population growth and project developments within the Community. As a proud resident, I would like to represent Hermon in the utmost positive way by introducing new ideas to further improve the quality of living in this area and by encouraging local residents to help preserve the value of this Historical Site. I aspire to gather more community members to attend meetings in order to acquire knowledge of Hermon's history and also, information with respect to safety and local issues. Thanks • Montecito Heights Thomas Fleming Marble -- .... tom@tommarble.com One issue in our part of Northeast Los Angeles that particularly interests me is the long imagined plan for an Arroyo Seco Open Space Corridor linking the upper reaches of the Hahamonga watershed to the Los Angeles River, a continuous green belt containing pedestrian, equestrian, and bike paths, that would become a valued community resource as well as provide an alternative to travel by car and light rail. As I have done as a member of the Debs Park Advisory Board, I would continue to forge alliances with other stakeholder groups in the area to make projects like this happen. • Monterey Hills Robert Hawkes -- .... rthawkes@gmail.com As one of two Neighborhood Council geographical representatives, I will advocate on behalf of Monterey Hills and act as a liaison between our community and the City of LA, in accordance with the mission statement of Neighborhood Councils. Please attend Monterey Hills Federation meetings at 7:30pm on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the recreation room of 4225 Via Arbolada. • Mt. Washington (two seats) Paula Sirola -- .....paulasirola@yahoo.com I am running for re-election to this position to expand stakeholder participation in the ASNC.  After serving two years as the co-chair of the ASNC Mt. Washington Local Issues committee, I will dedicate the next two years to outreach efforts to insure that the interests of the community are effectively represented by the ASNC. Gintaras Valiulis -- .....sirgint@gmail.com Committed involvement of stakeholders has maintained the quality of life in Mt. Washington.  This community made me.  I went to Mt. Washington Elementary school, Luther Burbank Jr. High, and Franklin High School before going away to Harvard.  Returning several years ago, I now teach 7th and 8th grade Social Studies while also being a parent of a student at the elementary school.  I have seen my neighbors serve my community in many ways.  Now, I ask that my neighbors entrust me to serve them and examine our challenges to find solutions that satisfy the stakeholders. Scott Folsom -- .....smfolsom@aol.com I'm running for three reasons for Mount Washington representative to the ASNC.  1) I was there at the beginning of the ASNC. I understand the power, limits and possibilities of neighborhood councils.  2) The next two years are pivotal for neighborhood councils in LA; we can either be effective local government at its most local . . .or we can be ineffectual and ignored.  3) My wife would like speed bumps on our street.  Mount Washington and our ASNC communities are great places to live and raise children, we can make them even better. Thank you. Louis Mraz -- .... lmraz@roadrunner.com I am a twenty four year resident of Mount Washington, living in the house my wife and I designed and built. Living on Elyria Drive, four doors down hill from the late Lucille Lemon, I was easily convinced to join the Mount Washington Association, where I served as land use committee chairman followed by four terms as association president. I later served as a board member of CANDER and now as a member of the Mount Washinton Homeowner's Alliance. After a few years of being 'just' a member, I feel it is time to get re-involved in Community Activities.   • Sycamore Grove Joseph Clifford -- .... joeclifford@hotmail.com I am a former Peace Corps Volunteer who has a strong sense of community service and the desire to make Los Angeles a more livable, sustainable city. I have owned my house in Sycamore Grove for 2 years and have another property in Mt. Washington, so I am very concerned about keeping this area safe, energetic and moving in a positive direction. With active community members, we can create a great place to live. Thank you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At-Large representatives: (2 year terms - 1 seat for each) • Community Non-Profits Mark S. Legassie (Hermon) -- .... mark@legassie.com My motive for running for an ASNC board seat is to help improve public safety and community involvement, as well as to help non-profit organizations with civic-minded activities. As a member of the non-profit Hermon Emergency Preparedness Committee for the past three years, I have helped create a grass-roots emergency response plan for our local community (see www.hermon.org) . I would like the opportunity to expand this activity by creating a ASNC Public Safety Committee to develop emergency preparedness plans for all 5 communities of the ASNC, as well as to help all non-profit organizations to better serve those in need. • Education and Youth Robert Rakauskas (Mount Washington) -- .... robertrakauskas@yahoo.com The quality of our children's education acquires ever greater importance as we face pressing domestic social problems, economic uncertainty and global competition. When our educational system fails children, or children don't take advantage of opportunities, both the children and all of society suffer the consequences. As a public high school administrator and the father of three young children, I believe in the necessity of educational choices and the responsibility of both children and parents for success in school. As Education and Youth representative, I will publicize options and support all stakeholders in the pursuit of quality local education. www.robrak.com Spanish - La calidad de la educación de nuestros niños adquiere una importancia cada vez mayor ahora que afrontamos apremiantes problemas sociales domésticos, la incertidumbre económica, y la competición global. Cuando nuestro sistema educativo falla a nuestros niños, o los niños no aprovechan oportunidades, tanto los niños como toda la sociedad sufren las consequencias. Como administrador de escuela secundaria pública y padre de tres niños pequeños, creo en la necesidad de opciones educativas y en la responsabilidad de los niños así como de los padres por el éxito en la escuela. Como representante de Educación y Juventud, daré publicidad a opciones y apoyaré a todos los interesados en la búsqueda de una educación local de calidad. Clifford R. Moseley (Hermon) -- .... crmoseley@hotmail.com As an educator with a proven track record of creating positive choices and opportunities for local youths, I would be honored to serve another term on the ASNC.  As the incumbent Education and Youth representative, and as co-founder and co-director of Los Angeles International Charter High School (LAICHS), I am well aware and have worked diligently to address the issues facing the youth of our community.  At LAICHS we provide a safe, small, public, college-preparatory high school for local north-east Los Angeles youth.  Vote for educational opportunities, Vote for Moseley. • Environment Jerry P. Schneider (Mount Washington) -- .... jerryspec9@sbcglobal.net I served as your environmental representative for four years, and after a year off for term limits I would like to continue to represent you. I have worked to bring our communities projects that protect and enhance our environment. I have voiced my opinion to modify or reject projects that would impact us adversely. Protecting open space and natural areas and yet allowing development consistent with our community values, planning and zoning codes, and infrastructure are still key issues. There still is much to be accomplished and I hope you will let me serve you. • Faith Based Organizations Glenda Lubelsky (Mount Washington) - write-in candidate -- .... glubelsky@gmail.com I have been a resident of Mount Washington for more than eight years and take pleasure in the richness of the cultural and religious diversity in our ASNC communities. I look forward to working closely with all of our faith-based organization in order to represent their needs and concerns, and to act as liaison between them and the ASNC Board of Directors. • Health Care and Seniors Grace Romero (Hermon) -- .... gne58401@aol.com I have decided to be a candidate for the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, because I love my community. The exciting opportunity of this formed council is the chance to share resources and strategies. It is my hope to contribute as the council develops its neighborhood plan to help improve the overall services. Such as community health ( social, economic, environmental) and well being. Families suffering as a result of long-term structural conditions as well as those who are severely affected by the significant difficulties in local and national economy. I look forward to the challenge. Most importantly healthy neighborhoods. Amado Machorro-Cervantes (Hermon) -- .... amado01@ucla.edu Hello, my name is Amado Machorro-Cervantes. I am running to be the representative for seniors and health for my community in Hermon. I moved to Hermon because I know it is a beautiful and progressive area. While living in Highland Park I went Franklin High School. After high school I went to UCLA. Currently, I am a high school teacher. I want to advocate justice for our senior citizens in our community. I want to hear their concerns and protect their rights. I also want to work and cooperate with the community council on senior and health concerns. Thank you. • Recreation, Culture and the Arts Yuwen Peng (Mount Washington) -- .... ywp11@yahoo.com Rich culture shaped the past of our neighborhoods as modern art forms blossom from our very own residents.  To support and promote the growth of arts and cultural activities as civic assets and social events within our communities is what I strive for. I'd like to cultivate related activities such as organizing artists' open houses, storytelling for the kids, farmer's markets and outdoor activities to befriend our motherland. The concept of these events is not foreign to many Southern California neighborhoods. I believe these types of venues are the roots to strengthen the bond of our communities. • Retail, Wholesale and Services Joanna Silva (Hermon) -- .... joanna@mtgsinc.com As an active Realtor and Co-owner of Hermon's Neighborhood Coffee house “Cycleway Coffee”, my experiences both in real estate and in a local business start up can be an asset to the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council. My daily interaction with hundreds of local customers at Cycleway Coffee is a great way to be the eyes and ears of the ASNC. Many of our customers who have been living in the surrounding areas have not heard of the ASNC. I would be honored to get involved and help make a difference in the community. Ernest E. Sanchez (Montecito Heights) -- no statement.... eesanchez@sbcglobal.net (Candidates are listed in an order randomized by the IEA, here and on the printed ballot) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Candidate statements that were received by Friday, October 24, 2008, will appear in the ballot mailing. Any sent after tha date will be distributed electionically, periodically to stakeholders as outlined in the City-approved election procedures. Write-In Candidate Deadline: Sunday, November 23, 2008 (received by IEA, by 5 p.m.) ASNC Election: November 24, 2008, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (from) Jerry Kvasnicka, Independent Election Administrator; P.O. Box 41048, Los Angeles, CA 90041; Phone: 818-269-7759; Fax: 866-636-4441; E-mail: jkvas@earthlink. net

In order to run, all candidates must be registered ASNC stakeholders, although they may register at the same time as they file. And, if running for a Geographic position, they must be registered within that region.

ASNC stakeholders are defined as individuals who live, work, own property, or are parents or guardians of students attending school within the ASNC boundaries, or who declare a stake in any one of the five ASNC communities and affirm the factual basis for that claim, or else are the the sole designated representatives of businesses or organizations that operate or own property within the ASNC boundaries.

Copies of our registration forms and candidate filing forms went out in the mail to every postal address and are also available here on our website.

We offered two Candidate Workshops, facilitated by the Elections Committee, where potential candidates were briefed on the Election requirements and procedures, as well as their expectations, responsibilities and obligations if they are elected.

These workshops were at Ramona Hall, 4580 N. Figueroa St., and at Fellowship Hall, 5800 Monterey Rd. (in Hermon) respectively:

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Ernest Sanchez
ASNC President
eesanchez@sbcglobal.net