Cheng not running; 6 candidates for Council

UPDATE Jan. 20: With the surprise lack of filing by two potential candidates by the extended deadline at 5 p.m. Jan. 20, there are now six candidates for two available seats on the Arcadia City Council.

April Verlato

Paul Cheng, a lawyer in Pasadena who made a big splash in the hotly-contested 2010 election, pulled the necessary papers last month to submit a bid but then last Friday, the original deadline for submitting signatures and other forms, posted on his Facebook page that he would not be running this year. “I am writing this to let everyone know that I will not be running for Arcadia City Council,” he wrote. Noting that “many pundits have said that I have an excellent chance to win,” he said he determined that with his “growing law practice,” he would be unable to dedicate himself to clients that “God has put before me” during the election cycle. He also confessed to being a “momma’s boy” who needs to spend more time with his mother as she is “getting older.”

Late last month a relative unknown in local politics or community activities, Alan Yee Phong Thian, also pulled papers from the City Clerk’s office but did not file the completed paperwork.

Peter Amundson

Nonetheless, the campaign promises to be lively with three former Mayors in the race — Peter Amundson, Dr. Sheng Chang, and Bob Harbicht, along with April Verlato, who has made quite a name for herself in the past year challenging the City and the Council in many verbal and legal ways on the topic of mansion-ization. She has a law practice based in Downtown Arcadia and is President of the Arcadia Improvement Association.

Amundson and Harbicht have been sitting out a mandatory minimum two-year period since sitting on the Council for eight years (two consecutive four-year terms).

The other two candidates are Burton Brink and Paul Van Fleet, both of whom ran in the last election of 2014.

Paul Van Fleet

One of the two seats available would have been former Mayor Wuo’s as an incumbent for his second consecutive term this time around after a prior eight-year stint. But Wuo’s name became so entangled with a federal investigation and eventual criminal charges of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission against an Arcadia-based business called USFIA Inc. (US Fine Investment Arts) for operating a global pyramid scheme bilking $32 million from investors over the last 2 1/2 years, that Wuo resigned October 6. He has not been officially charged with any wrongdoing. The other open seat belongs to Mayor Gary Kovacic, who is termed out after another coupling of two consecutive four-year terms.

Dr. Sheng Chang

Voters will submit votes only by mail again this year, with the first batch of ballots being mailed Monday, March 14, according to Lisa Mussenden, Elections Official, Chief Deputy City Clerk/Records Manager for the Arcadia City Attorney/City Clerk Office. Postage for resident mail ballots will be prepaid by the city and ballots must be postmarked April 12 and received in the City Clerk’s office by April 15. Walk-in ballots at City Hall must be received in the City Clerk’s office no later than 8 a.m. the morning of April 12, 2016. The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce will hold its traditional Meet the Candidates Forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, in the Cay Mortenson Auditorium of the Arcadia Public Library.

Burton Brink

A first-time candidate in the 2014 election who surprised some with a strong showing, Burton Brink, age 52, is a Sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. His statement submitted to Arcadia’s Best: “As an Arcadia native, I feel it is an honor to serve my hometown and to give back to the community where I grew up and attended school, graduating AHS in 1982. My family has resided in Arcadia for over 49 years. I became a Deputy Sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1989. I was promoted to Sergeant in January, 2009. My responsibilities have been: Watch Commander, Watch Sergeant, Field Sergeant, Press Information Officer, Montrose Search and Rescue Team, Explorers, Reserves, Disaster Communications Service, C.E.R.T., Community Relations, and Volunteers Coordinator. I’m a member of the Arcadia ELK’s Lodge and the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce. I’m on the Board of Directors for the Professional Peace Officer Association of Los Angeles County and Charitable Foundation. I have worked for numerous cities, including Arcadia. I have extensive knowledge and experience with city governments to help me serve our city. Arcadia must be fiscally wise, provide efficient community services and maintain our community programs with safe and beautiful neighborhoods. I want to see our schools continue to be the great learning environment. I look forward to representing all the residents of our great city! Thank you for your vote. Burton L. Brink Brink4Arcadia@hotmail.com www.BurtonBrink.com

Bob Harbicht also submitted a bio to Arcadia’s Best:

Bob Harbicht

Harbicht for Council Committee 663 Gloria Road, Arcadia, California 91006 626-484-4214 • pbharbicht@gmail.com

Short Biography of Bob Harbicht

Bob has served 20 years on the Arcadia City Council, longer than anyone in the 112-year history of the city. Because of the city’s term limits rule, his 20 years have been spread over a 30-year period. He left the Council 18 months ago because he reached his term limits again.

Bob is very concerned at what has happened to Arcadia in the short time he has been off the Council. He plans to run again in the April, 2016 election.

Bob has the experience Arcadia needs: • 20 years Arcadia City Council, several terms Mayor • Also served as Mayor of Duarte

He has demonstrated a deep commitment to our community: • Named “Citizen of the Year” last year, with his wife Patsy • President, Arcadia Rotary Club • Chairman, Lucky Baldwin District (9 cities), Boy Scouts of America • President, Arcadia Educational Foundation • President, Arcadia High School Drill Team Booster Club • Board, Arcadia Public Library Foundation • Board, AYSO Soccer, and others too numerous to mention

He has the business management experience to bring to his service on the Council: • 30 years President of a nationally known marketing research consulting firm, which he founded (Harbicht Research Inc.) • He has dealt with 30 years of the decisions that must be made to have a profitable company

Time to “bring back Bob.” Bring back the quiet, well-run city we have always enjoyed. His calm, logical, reasoned approach is just what our city needs right now.

— By Scott Hettrick