City Enacts Smoking Ban
Smoking will be prohibited in Temple City parks.
Written by RANDY SHUN / Published November 6, 2009
Smokers will soon have one less location to hang out.
The City Council of Temple City unanimously passed ordinance 09-928, which prohibits smoking in city parks, on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
“This code amendment would, therefore, ban smoking in all City parks (and future open space) including the buildings, outdoor areas, and parking lots,” wrote interim city manager Cathy Burroughs in a staff memo to the City Council.
Representatives from Friends of Clean Air, Pasadena Tobacco Prevention Coalition and Coalition for a Tobacco Free L.A. County urged the City Council to support the law.
Even Temple City resident and seventh grader Chloe Yin thanked the City Council for moving to ban smoking in city parks. “I strongly suggest that [the] City puts up signs saying no smoking in parks,” she added.
“The sidewalks are not included,” said Burroughs in response to a question posed by a Temple City resident.
A movement to ban smoking in City parks began in May. Councilmembers heard from residents and interested groups, including the American Cancer Association, at a hearing in June. After discussing the proposed ban, the City Council directed staff to draft an ordinance.
The City Council will approve a second reading of the ordinance on July 21. The ordinance then will become city law 30 days later.
For more information, please contact the city of Temple City at 626-285-2171.
Smith, Walker Defeat Challenger
Incumbents re-elected to another term.
Written by SOPHIA CHANG / Published November 6, 2009
Matt Smith and Joe Walker are the winners of the November 3, 2009 Temple City school board election.
Smith received 1242 votes, or 39 percent, Walker got 1058 votes, or 36.8 percent, and Kenneth Knollenberg received 704 votes, or 24.3 percent. These results are semi-official and was updated at 2 p.m. today.
“I will do the best I can, and thank you!” Walker posted on his Facebook account Wednesday. Walker stated he was “humbled and honored” for voters’ support for his re-election.
“I think that the message from the community was clear and unequivocal,” wrote Smith in a statement to the Temple City Voice, “…the community is pleased with the direction that the Temple City Unified School District has been going in and does not want to risk having a school board controlled or beholden to the same select few recurring leaders of the teachers’ union.”
He continued, “The community and I respect and support the work of teachers but we also want a fair, impartial and independent school board…That’s what I feel that I uniquely brought to the table during this election…”
“I also sincerely hope that we (everyone) can all move forward together in tackling the truly important issues in our district,” Smith concluded.
Incumbent and School Board Clerk Smith was seeking a third term on the school board. Smith was appointed to the school board in 1998, and was elected to his first full term in 2001.
He had been endorsed by numerous city and district officials, including three city councilmembers and two school boardmembers. He had also secured the support of community and business leaders.
Walker, who ran as a slate with challenger Knollenberg, was first elected to the school board in 2005.
Both Walker and Knollenberg were endorsed by the Temple City Education Association (TCEA), the local teachers’ union, and the California School Employees Association.
In addition, both Walker and Smith were endorsed by the Pasadena Star News in an October 25 editorial.
According to the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters, the semi-official voter turnout in L.A. County was 11.75 percent.
The semi-official voter turnout for the city of Temple City was 10.8 percent, up from two years ago, and 11.6 percent for voters within the Temple City Unified School District, a decrease from two years ago.
“I am surprised that there was an increase of voter participation within the city of Temple City” says Matthew Wong, founder of the Temple City Voice. “I was expecting a decrease, but nevertheless, I am happy that more voters cared enough to participate this time around.”
UPDATE: The published article does not include Friday’s updated tally; this online article does.
- Temple City Voice graphic
2009 School Board Elections (Updated Results – 11/6)
Matt Smith*: 1242 (39%) ELECTED
Joe Walker*: 1172 (37%) ELECTED
Kenneth Knollenberg: 775 (24%)
*Incumbent
These results are semi-official; 100 percent of precincts have now reported.
2009 School Board Elections: Incumbents Defeat Challenger
Matt Smith*: 1165 (39.8%) PROJECTED TO WIN
Joe Walker*: 1058 (35.2%) PROJECTED TO WIN
Kenneth Knollenberg: 704 (24.1%)
*Incumbent
These results are semi-official; 100 percent of precincts have now reported.
2009 School Board Elections: Smith, Walker Leading
Kenneth Knollenberg: 354 (22.4%)
Matt Smith: 664 (42%)
Joe Walker: 563 (35.6%)
*Incumbent
These results only include signature verified vote-by-mail ballots.
Election Day – November 3, 2009
Election Day has finally arrived.
The voters in the Temple City Unified School District will choose two (2) among three (3) candidates running for School Board. Candidates’ interviews, conducted by the Temple City Voice staff, are available.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. this morning and close at 8 p.m. this evening.
The Temple City Voice will publish results as they become available.
Unions, Elected Officials Throw Support Behind School Board Candidates
School Board candidates receive numerous endorsements from unions, elected officials and community leaders.
Written by DARREN LAI / Published October 30, 2009
With the school board elections approaching in just a few days, unions, elected officials and community leaders have rallied behind the three candidates running for Temple City school board.
Former School Board president and incumbent Joe Walker has been endorsed by the Temple City Education Association (TCEA), the local teachers’ union and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) unit 105.
Ken Knollenberg, who is running with Walker, has also been endorsed by TCEA and CSEA.
Meanwhile, incumbent Board Clerk Matt Smith has received numerous endorsements from city and district officials alike.
Two individuals Smith once campaigned against, School Board Vice-President Rachel LaSota and Member Janet Rhee, have thrown their support behind him.
In addition, Temple City mayor Fernando Vizcarra and his wife, former School Board Member Joan Vizcarra, councilman Tom Chavez, councilwoman Cynthia Sternquist, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Linda Payne, Dr. Kenneth Martin, businessman Jerry Jambazian and former Chamber of Commerce chairman John Zubrick, have endorsed Smith.
The Pasadena Star News also endorsed Smith and Walker on Sunday, October 25.
Voters residing in the boundaries of the Temple City Unified School District will vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Election results will also be published at the Temple City Voice blog as results stream in.
School Board Candidate Interview: Joe Walker
This is the last of three candidate interviews conducted by the Temple City Voice for the 2009 School Board election.
Walker is seeking a second term on the School Board.
Written by RANDY SHUN / Published October 30, 2009
Former School Board president Joe Walker is seeking a second term.
“I’m a people-person,” says Walker. Walker often stays after school board meetings to individually address citizens. “I’m willing to listen.”
Walker faces off against two other candidates vying for one of two seats available in November.
What distinguishes Walker from his competition are his promotion of pro-employee policies and community involvement.
A sixteen-year Temple City resident, Walker is a crime analyst with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. His two children attend Temple City schools.
Walker, first elected in November 2005, has served a term as president, succeeding former Board Member Mukesh Luhar.
He moved to Temple City in 1993 and still claims Temple City “as a safe community, a safe area.” He adds, “These are good schools. I have never thought about leaving.”
His experience ranges from rallying community support to listening to concerned workers, parents and students. “It takes a while to learn what you’re doing,” Walker admits. “Half-way through my first term, I realized how the system worked.”
In accordance to his community involvement, Walker aims to ensure proper public representation.
“I opposed the bond in 2007 because the community did not support the bond,” he states. “The teachers weren’t against it, new school board members were not in support, superintendent was about to leave.” He intends to pass the next bond measure with support of the School Board, teachers’ union, employee groups, community, while guaranteeing the bond’s funding to be exhausted prudently and efficiently.
Walker will continue his pro-people policies, attempting to rehire dismissed individuals and restore diminished work hours. “Revenue has increased because of enrollment,” asserts Walker. The schools, currently understaffed, are expected to recover under his policies. He plans to fix media center libraries, currently operating at 60 percent efficiency.
Renovation of outdated, dangerous infrastructure will be implemented if re-elected. Oak Avenue Intermediate School and Temple City High School both suffer from obsolete technology and antiquated structures, but Walker stipulates refurbishment as a key campaign goal.
“I’m a big believer in our school district,” Walker says. “I’m always willing to speak up if something is wrong.”
JSA, TCV Host Candidates’ Forum
All the candidates running for School Board show up for organizations’ third forum.
Written by CHRISTINE KEUNG / Published October 30, 2009
The Temple City Voice and the Temple City High School Junior State of America (JSA) co-hosted a school board candidates’ forum, exposing youth, parents and citizens to the contenders of the November school board election.
The 2009 School Board Candidates’ Forum was held on Saturday, October 24 at Temple City High School.
Several dignitaries were present including Temple City mayor Fernando Vizcarra, councilman Tom Chavez, councilwoman Cynthia Sternquist. School Board President Robert Ridley and Vice-President Rachel LaSota also attended.
The three candidates, Kenneth Knollenberg, Matt Smith and Joe Walker are running for two spots on the school board.
“TCV and JSA wanted to give voters a chance to ask questions to the candidates,” said JSA Co-President Jacky Chan. “The forum is meant to be a tool to help residents make this decision.”
The forum began with introductions from Temple City Voice editor-in-chief Sophia Chang and JSA co-presidents Jacky Chan and Christine Keung. Each candidate was then given five minutes to introduce himself and speak on his platform.
Taylor Evanko, the vice-president of JSA, moderated the forum.
He posed questions covering specific projects such as what each candidate would do if elected, as well as the candidates’ priorities on what they want to accomplish. All candidates mentioned the data collector system and the renovation of Oak Avenue Intermediate School gym.
Following a brief intermission, the forum continued with audience-submitted questions. Knollenberg, Smith and Walker answered questions dealing with the need for special education, the superintendent’s recent contract renewal, parental involvement and fundraising.
“Despite the differences in their responses, the three candidates really showed that they wanted to improve the Temple City Unified School District,” Chan said. “I believe that all of them can make a positive difference on the School Board.”
Chan and Keung concluded the event by giving thanks to those who sponsored the candidates’ forum and presenting the candidates with JSA mugs.
A video recording of the entire forum can be viewed on the Temple City Chamber of Commerce website.
Three Republicans, Two Democrats Vying to Succeed Schwarzenegger
In the midst of high unemployment and a struggling economy, many Californians are looking forward to the California Gubernatorial Election in November of next year.
Written by TAYLOR EVANKO / Published October 23, 2009
The 2010 gubernatorial elections for California are just around the corner. Current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is term-limited and cannot run again.
Citizens will likely turn to a leader capable of reviving California’s economy. In August, the unemployment rate climbed to a record 12.2 percent and budget problems for next fiscal year are expected.
Five major candidates have entered or are expected to enter the race: three Republicans, two Democrats.
The Republican candidates are former CEO of eBay Meg Whitman, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former Congressman Tom Campbell.
A few weeks ago, the Republican gubernatorial candidates addressed the GOP at its state convention.
Whitman called for additional budget cuts, totaling $15 billion and the layoff of tens of thousands of state employees. Poizner advocated for a reduction of state taxes by ten percent. Campbell, the most moderate candidate, offered a detailed plan to fix the state’s chronic budget crisis that included raising taxes.
All three Republican candidates support abortion rights. Campbell is the only candidate to support same-sex marriage.
On the Democratic side, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and former governor and now the California attorney general, Jerry Brown, are competing for the party’s nomination. Newsom is the only Democrat to have officially declared he was in the race. Brown currently leads the polls.
The Democratic and Republican primary elections will be held on June 8, 2010. The general election will occur on November 2, 2010.
UPDATE: Democratic candidate Gavin Newsom withdrew from the gubernatorial race yesterday, October 30.
