Snyder Ends 18 Years on Council With Tears, Praise

Los Angeles City Council members bid an emotional farewell to Councilman Arthur K. Snyder on Friday, standing one by one to salute the controversial Eastside politician who resigned from office after 18 years.

After a teary Snyder read a speech to the crowd gathered in City Council chambers, his colleagues tentatively approved a Dec. 10 special election to replace him in the 14th Council District, which includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park and Eagle Rock.

Balloons and a mariachi band lined Snyder’s route from his office to the council chambers. His resignation had been anticipated for several months, and the likely candidates who hope to replace him stood watching in the back of the room, waiting to see if the long-promised but oft-delayed retirement would actually occur.

It did. After the council had handled its routine business, the 52-year-old Snyder stood up at his seat where a large flower arrangement had been placed.

“The years have encompassed for me personally periods of great sorrow and great joy, of mourning and of exultation. . . .,” he said. “These days now draw to a close.

“For my own reasons and for my own purposes and as a result of my own decision, I now return to my primary vocation, the practice of the law.”

Snyder’s career was full of dramatic contrasts, marked by repeated scandals and political resurrections. A national debate champion at USC, he became a councilman in 1967. With his oratorical and fund-raising skills, he quickly seemed destined for higher office.

But then came a divorce from his second wife and a major custody battle in which she alleged Snyder beat her, while he said she beat him. Later, he was removed from posts on a City Council committee and the Regional Coastal Commission after complaints that he used them to boost his own fund-raising.

Drunk-Driving Charge

One of several accidents in a city-owned car led to a drunk-driving charge and a trial that ended in a hung jury in 1980. And, in a major controversy that hurt his fund-raising, he was fined $14,000 by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for admitted conflict-of-interest violations, including failing to disclose about $142,000 in outside income. And during a Dependency Court hearing late last year, Snyder’s 9-year-old daughter said he had molested her several years ago. In May, the district attorney decided not to file charges.

Despite his troubles, he was returned to office repeatedly by the voters, partially because the largely Anglo Eagle Rock voted in numbers larger than the rest of the district, but also because he had many fiercely loyal Latino supporters.

He presented himself to voters as a scrapper who beat City Hall at its own game for the benefit of his constituents. Snyder was fond of citing his barrio roots and his determination to learn Spanish to better serve the district. He described himself as a politician who has “bit and scratched, and I’ve been mean and bad because in City Hall sometimes you have to do that.”

In his speech, he advised council members to follow 10 rules, including: Don’t criticize each other in public, remember the voters who elect you, and one about how to handle the media.

“Never forget that the media, while strong of voice, are not the voice of the people. . . .,” he said. “Listen to them as you listen to all opinions. But they should have no more mandate upon your honest judgment than any other element in the city.”

After asking council members to “please watch over the 14th District,” his voice cracking and tears rolling down his face, he formally resigned. Snyder received a standing ovation from council members and the audience.

Colleagues Praise Snyder

Council members took turns praising Snyder’s oratorical skills, his work in bringing parks and recreation centers into the 14th District, and his political skills that helped him survive two recall elections.

The council then turned to setting a special election. Councilman Robert Farrell, chairman of the council’s Charter and Elections Committee, recommended a Dec. 10 election, and the council tentatively agreed.

The date was opposed by several who said the short time period until the election would favor well-financed Democratic Assemblyman Richard Alatorre, whom Snyder has endorsed.

“This is a historic election,” Antonio Rodriguez, one of the candidates who also wants to replace Snyder, told the council. “We (Latinos) have been left out of representation by this body in the past. We cannot really discuss issues facing the community unless you give us time to do it.”

Vote in 90 Days Sought

Gilbert Avila, another candidate, urged the council to set the election in 90 days. He and others said the council wanted to hurry the city election so it would be decided by Feb. 5, when Alatorre would have to file papers if he wants to run for reelection to the Legislature.

That February date could conflict with the 14th District election for if no candidate receives at least 50% plus one vote in the Dec. 10 election, a runoff would have to take place between the top two vote-getters, according to the City Charter. That election would likely take place in February or March.

However, Alatorre could run for council and file his formal intention to run for reelection to the Legislature at the same time, according to Caren Daniels-Meade, spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office. She said state law allows Alatorre to “run for both offices, as long as they weren’t on the same ballot, although obviously he could only actually hold one office.”

Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, noting past snafus in the city clerk’s office during a 14th District race election, went along with the tentative Dec. 10 election date but warned that the schedule does not allow much leeway for delays or mistakes.

Under the current schedule, those interested in running for the office will have the last half of this month and the first half of next month to file their papers and gather supporting signatures. The final list of candidates will not be known until Nov. 22. Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, voters probably would not receive their sample ballots until Dec. 1, nine days before the election, City Clerk Elias Martinez said.

Final Vote Next week

The 11 council members present approved the Dec. 10 date. A final vote will be taken next week.

Snyder, who said he intends to work as a lobbyist as well as practice law, was sent off with appropriate tunes by a mariachi band.

One was “ Las Golondrinas “ (the swallows), a traditional farewell song. The other, “ El Rey “ (the king), “is a macho Spanish-language version of ‘My Way,’ ” said one Latino political aide observing Snyder’s teary goodbys to scores of supporters.

“With or without money, I do what I want to do,” the band sang. “. . . Even if people don’t understand me, I’m still the king.”