Super Tuesday shakeup sees Rios re-elected, Vernola ousted

Mayor Rios found an early lead on Super Tuesday, never forfeiting it. Photo by Alex Dominguez

NORWALK - Super Tuesday proved to be quite the shake-up for Norwalk’s City Council, seeing only one incumbent retain their seat, and beckoning the return of a former, highly-controversial official.

Heading into elections, Mayor Margarita Rios and Vice Mayor Luigi Vernola looked to defend their seats amongst a pool of four challengers vying for one of three spots on the Council. Councilman Leonard Shryock opted to not bid for reelection, guaranteeing at least one new face to the council.

Rios grabbed an early lead and maintained it through the night. As of Thursday morning and with “majority votes cast,” she was ahead of the pack with 4,594 (25.71 percent) votes.

Ana Valencia is one of two newly elected council members. She has served on the NLMUSD School Board since 2001. Photo courtesy City of Norwalk.

She was closely followed by Ana Valencia, who has served on the Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District since 2001. Valencia collected 3,833 (21.45 percent) votes.

The night was less kind, however, to Vernola, who trailed in the fourth position behind Rick Ramirez for much of the evening. Things only got worse for Norwalk’s other running incumbent, when sometime around midnight he fell into the fifth spot behind former NLMUSD Board member Richard Legaspi. Trailing in the second-to-last position with 2,376 (13.30 percent) votes, this election has spelled the end of Vernola’s current run on the council.

Ramirez, instead, will take the final open seat.

His selection is likely one of the more eye-raising to longtime residents of the City. Ramirez served on the council from 2003-2011, however it was not without controversy.

In October 2009, Ramirez was arrested and booked on suspicion of criminal threats against his wife, later being released after posting $50,000 bail. Those charges were ultimately dropped for lack of evidence.

The following year, he faced a lawsuit after being accused of sexual misconduct against a female city employee.

He collected 3,383 (18.93 percent) votes.

Rick Ramirez secured the final open seat. He returns to Council after previously serving from 2003-2011. Photo courtesy City of Norwalk.

Norwalk voters also approved Measure P - a three-quarter-cent local sales tax that would generate approximately $7 million annually to support Norwalk’s essential services and community programs – with over 58 percent of the vote.

At the Representative level, Linda Sanchez handedly defeated opponent Michael Tolar with over 77 percent of the vote.

Sanchez released a victory statement before 11 pm on Tuesday, saying,

“Thank you to all of the volunteers and supporters who came out today. I’m honored and humbled by the amount of voters who are eager to keep me in Congress. It’s my love and dedication to this community that gives me the strength every day to stand against the Trump administration’s constant attacks on immigrants’ rights, education, health care, and middle-class families. As we head to the general election in November, know that I will continue to be a voice for working people, a voice for women, and a voice for everyone who has felt sidelined.”