Powerful Politicos Help Pacheco, Su Launch Walnut Council Campaigns

Walnut City Council members Mary Su and Bob Pacheco kicked off their campaigns Saturday to a packed house that included national, state, and local lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton, state Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, and former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin were among the crowd that squeezed into the duo's campaign headquarters in the Vons-anchored Lemon Creek Village Shopping Center.

Also in attendance were mayors from various cities, as well as council members from Diamond Bar, several Mt. San Antonio College Trustees, and most of the Rowland Unified and Walnut Valley Unified board members, including state Assembly candidate Phillip Chen.

Chen, who is vice president of the Walnut Valley Unified school board, referred to both Su and Pacheco as mentors, lauded their efforts to give back to the community, and urged those in attendance to help walk precincts and donate to the campaigns.

"There's going to be critics, people opposing us, but I know both of these people will succeed and do great things for our city and do great things for the East San Gabriel Valley," Chen said of the candidates. "Every time Bob Pacheco and Mary Su have stepped up for the community, they have hit a grand slam."

Su was first elected to the Walnut City Council in 2006, serving as mayor in 2009 and 2012-13. She previously served on the Walnut Parks and Recreation Commission and is the co-founder and chairwoman of the Chinese-American Parents Association, Walnut Valley Unified School District.

The event was an emotional one for the councilwoman, who teared up when thanking her friends and supporters and talking about her desire to serve Walnut.

"My heart is for the city of Walnut," Su said. "I belong to Walnut. Walnut is my child. Walnut is everything to me. That's why I am devoted to Walnut."

She vowed, if re-elected, not to increase any city taxes, to continue to work with local schools, as well as county, state, and federal lawmakers to bring resources to town, and to maintain Walnut's high quality of life.

Pacheco's run for election is an effort of sorts to return to where he started. The former assemblyman served on the Walnut City Council for two years before being elected state office in 1998.  He was termed out of the assembly in 2004.

The attorney was appointed to the Walnut City Council in July to fill the vacant seat left when former Mayor Tom King retired.

Pacheco said zero tolerance for crime, construction of the senior and teen centers, and development of the shopping center at Grand Avenue and Valley Boulevard are all things that he and fellow council members did when he served the first time in the mid 1990s.

The things that the first council he was a member of developed are still serving Walnut to this day, he said.

Pacheco said he is running again for the council because Walnut is home to him and his family. He called for the council members to work closer together.

"Creating a good city to live in means a lot of things," Pacheco said. "That means working together. The most important thing I see for this city is making sure that we get along and that we unite our resources.  I want to be one that is inclusive of everyone."

The nomination period for the April 8 election ends Monday at 5:30 p.m., which will provide an opportunity to see who else might be running for the two seats.

Supporters of Pacheco and Su said that both had served Walnut with dedication and should be returned to office.

Chu called Su an "outstanding leader" who is dedicated to the city she lives in. Su broke barriers by becoming the first Asian woman to be elected to the council, Chu said.

"Mary is so involved in Walnut and has been for such a long time, that I would call her Ms. Walnut," Chu said. "This is a person who more than deserves being re-elected to the Walnut City Council. I think we're just really lucky to have her, so I pledge my full support for her. And I hope you pledge your full support to her."

Former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin said she has known Pacheco for around 20 years.

"He has always been true to himself, true to his values, and true to his word," she said. "At the end of the day I know the citizens of Walnut have benefited from his experience, from his knowledge, and his commitment."