NORWALK CITY COUNCIL ELECTION: Controversial Norwalk Mayor Gordon Stefenhagen goes on attack against city council hopeful Marcel Rodarte and his qualifications. Rodarte is an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant and he also works for the Department of Defense. Ahhh, Norwalk politics. Gotta love it!

Marcel Rodarte in Germany serving his country in the Air Force in December, 2010.

By Randy Economy
www.Economy4ABC.Blogspot.com
February 7, 2011
9:30 p.m. PST

Norwalk, CA

In a stunning letter to voters, outgoing Norwalk Mayor Gordon Stefenhagen has gone on the attack against  United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Marcel Rodarte.

Yep.  Politics is raising a very ugly head in Norwalk.

Stefenhagen said Rodarte has a "lack of qualifications" and linked him to one of the "ugliest" and "worst" campaigns in "Norwalk's entire history."

Stefenhagen, also attacked the "integrity" and "character" of current Norwalk City Councilman Rick Ramirez in the same letter.  Ramirez has had his past run ins with the law during the past four years due to alleged domestic violence issues between himself and his wife.

What is appalling is that Stefenhagen is attempting to paint  Rodarte and Ramirez with the the same brush.

Shame on you Gordon. Short term memory? Ramirez canned Rodarte from the Planning Commission and YOU approved of it.  Remember?


Sad to see Stephenhagen end his public career on such a sour and frankly obscene manner.

In a letter to Norwalk voters that was received over the past 24 hours, Mayor Stefenhagen is pushing for the election of his longtime political ally Judith Brennen in the crowded field of 14 candidates.

Rodarte ran for Norwalk City Council in 2009, and lost to controversial incumbent Mike Mendez by 15 votes.   See my past blog postings for more background.

Stefenhagen is a widely distributed mailing says Rodarte has a  "lack of qualifications" and for that he (Rodarte) was responsible for  "creating an ugly campaign which would rank one of the worst in Norwalk's history."  Here are the exact words of Stefenhagen and the exact letter:

Real Estate salesman/slum lord Gordon Stefenhagen's attack on Rodarte.

Now here is the truth.

Rodarte is not only qualified to be on the Norwalk City Council, he probably has one of the most impressive resume's from ANY candidate in the 55 year history of Norwalk city elections.  I know what I am talking about when it comes to Norwalk politics.  You know, I wrote the "History book" on the city of Norwalk (available on Amazon.com, btw).

Rodarte accomplishments and REAL qualifications are striking. He is a rising star in our community.  In these times of "Bell politics" we need people like Marcel Rodarte in public office more than ever!Image via Wikipedia

Occupation: Quality Specialist for the Department of Defense. B.S. Degree in Business Management and two other Associate Arts Degrees in Electronics and Logistics Management.

Rodarte is employed by the Department of Defense as a Quality Specialist where he is responsible for the oversight of sensitive defense contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Yep. He is the real deal.

Image via WikipediaRodarte has already saved AMERICAN taxpayers millions of REAL dollars year in and year out because of his actions within the Department of Defense.

Gordon Stefenhagen is responsible for the biggest fiscal melt down in Norwalk history.  Gordo loves to tax and tax and raise fees, and raise them again and again on the hard working class people of Norwalk.

As an Air Force Senior Master Sargent on active duty, Rodarte literally just returned to Norwalk in early January from a tour of duty for seven months at the famed Ramstien Air Base in Germany.

Marcel Rodarte is "all about ethical and moral convictions."

Heck, he has even been a youth coach in Norwalk for several teams in the past, and is the best single father to an amazing young daughter.

Gordon Stefhenhagen has lined his pockets for decades by selling houses and run down commercial properties all over Norwalk and other surrounding communities. He is the "poster child" of greed in our local city halls.

Image via WikipediaSo, the next time you get a "political hit" piece in Norwalk from Mayor Gordon, consider the source and the political motivation behind it.  It is all about protecting the BEST interest of the "status quo" and the "good ol' boy club" that has controlled Norwalk for generations.

Last word....
I wonder if former Councilwoman Judith Brennen is condoning the sleazy attack on Marcel Rodarte. Her silence is deafening.

Don't be fooled.

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