Shelby to Run for Lost Council Seat

Longtime Bell Gardens Councilman Allen Shelby, who was one of four City Council members recalled from office last month, said he will try to recapture his seat in the regular April municipal election.

Shelby, 56, who was first elected to the council in 1982, said last week that he did not believe he was recalled for good reason.

“I made Bell Gardens a better place for people to live,” he said. “Ever since the recall, I’ve had people calling me saying that I can’t let this happen.”

Shelby was recalled Dec. 10 along with Mayor Robert Cunningham, Councilwoman Letha Viles and Councilman Douglas O’Leary. The four were accused of ignoring the needs of the largely Latino community after they approved zoning changes that critics charged would drive poor people from town. Cunningham has said he will not run. Viles and O’Leary said they are undecided.

A special election to replace the recalled council members is set for March 10. State regulations prohibit the four from running for office in the March 10 election, but they can run for three council seats that will be on the ballot again in the regular April election.

Mary Ann Barron, a leader of the recall, questioned Shelby’s decision to run again. “We took him out of office; that means a lot of people don’t want him there,” she said. “So what’s the use of him trying again?”