Dateline Hawaiian Gardens — Hews Media Group-Community News has learned that ABC School Board Area 7 candidate Silvestre Vasquez violated electioneering laws during Tuesday’s election. He asked for Hawaiian Gardens residents’ votes just outside the entrance to the polling place at Fedde Middle School.
No electioneering is allowed within 100 feet of a polling place. Mr. Vasquez’s actions violate the state’s Elections Code 319.5 Section 3108, a misdemeanor.
Mr. Vasquez is only eight votes behind the other Area 7 candidate, Christopher Apodaca.
This is the second violation committed by Mr. Vasquez. We reported exclusively in August that he listed his primary residence at 12134 114th St., Hawaiian Gardens. An online title search showed Mr. Vasquez living in a four-bedroom, two-bath single-family dwelling on San Arturo Circle in Buena Park.
Sources told us that Mr. Vasquez was handing out business cards to residents entering the polling place that had his picture and “Vote for Vasquez” printed on the card.
One resident, who did not want to be identified, told us “he stood right in front of the door, stopped people, talked to them, then gave them a business card.”
The resident complained to the poll workers. They said they told Mr. Vasquez to leave. “But the guy would not listen to us,” said one poll worker.
The poll supervisor told the resident “there is nothing we can do. He is not listening.”
So the resident called Los Angeles County to complain.
We spoke to Hawaiian City Councilman Rey Rodriguez who said “I got a call Vasquez was passing out cards at the polling place within 100 feet. I went over there and (candidate) Myra (Maravilla) was handing out flyers beyond the 100-foot line. She said that Vasquez told her she had to be past the line.”
Mr. Rodriguez said he went on, “confronted Vasquez. I asked him, ‘Why did you tell Myra to go over there and pass out flyers and you are standing here?’”
At the time, Mr. Vasquez was talking to Hawaiian Gardens Councilman Victor Farfan, but Mr. Farfan left as soon as Mr. Rodriguez walked up.
“What are you doing passing out cards? You know that is illegal?” Mr. Rodriguez asked.
“Vasquez came up with some stupid answer. He said ‘why are you interfering with my conversation with Myra?’ I thought that was weird.”
When Mr. Rodriguez once again said he was doing something illegal, Mr. Vasquez snapped back. “Who are you to tell me what I can do.”
The County Elections Supervisor eventually showed up. According to observers, the supervisor did nothing to stop Mr. Vasquez.
A sheriff’s deputy later came around.
Nothing changed.
Mr. Vasquez “stayed in front of the door until the polls closed,” one of the poll workers said.
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net
