Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper can confirm that long-time controversial Norwalk politician Cheri Kelley will not be running for City Council in March.
Filing deadline is tomorrow, and sources told Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper Ms. Kelly will not run.
The same sources said Vice-Mayor Kelley is pulling out because “she would have probably been embarrassed by coming in fourth or fifth place in March.”
Ms. Kelley was elected to Norwalk City Council in March 1997, re-elected in March 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013.
It was the 2013 election and her actions after the election that likely caused Ms. Kelley’s downward spiral and massive loss of popularity among her supporters.
We exclusively reported that Ms. Kelley received $17,000 from two real estate political action committees just days before the election.
The money was used for a direct mail postcard, with documents showing that the postcard and mailing house was based out of Virginia.
Norwalk Council Incumbent Cheri Kelley Receives $17,000 in Donations From Real Estate PAC’s
More than half, $9,500, came from the National Assn. of Realtors and the $7,500 from the California Real Estate PAC.
Later, another $5,500 was reported by Ms. Kelley, bringing the total to a staggering $22,500.
Even with the questionable huge contribution Ms. Kelley only won by 33 votes.
After her election win, Ms. Kelley proceeded to cast very controversial votes on simple funding projects.
Sources told us at the time that it was political payback by Ms. Kelley, something she was very well-known for, against those who did not support her.
She voted against the massive and popular Front Street improvement, voted against helping a Norwalk little league organization run by Cecil Fielder, and cut funding to Little Lake Park.
And in what many saw as ignorance and bad leadership, during her tenure, Norwalk saw one of the highest murder rates in its history.
The final nail in her political coffin was likely hammered in after Ms. Kelley, along with her ally, Councilman Leonard Shryock, voted against filling the vacant Council seat left by Marcel Rodarte’s departure in August.
Mayor Mike Mendez and Councilman Luigi Vernola were incensed at the political maneuver designed by Ms. Kelley to hinder votes on certain projects.
The move has placed the City in gridlock ever since.
“It does not make any sense (Ms. Kelley and Mr. Shryock) are not making an effort,” said Mr. Vernola. “We either have to appoint or hold a special election, or wait until March. What do they want to do, cost the city thousands of dollars?
“It would cost nothing to appoint a candidate and take the city out of gridlock.”
One resident who did not want to be identified was “very happy Kelley is not running. She never did anything for the city. You only saw her when election time rolled around. Her major support was the seniors.
“But they saw what she did after her slim win in 2013 — and the major players have pulled their support. Good riddance. Let’s get new blood on the Council.”
This story originated at www.loscerritosnews.net
