Sarega faces stiff competition in District 2 re-election bid

Two candidates with an extensive record of service to the community are looking to unseat La Mirada city council member Andrew Sarega in his bid for a third term in the District 2 election in June. 

Chris Pflanzer, who served nine years as a Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board member is one of the candidates and cites public safety as his top priority.

Pflanzer, who has operated his own business for 39 years has served on more than a dozen community organizations including the La Mirada Community Foundation says fiscal responsibility and responsible leadership are also priorities if elected. 

Taking direct aim at Sarega and his frequent absences at city council meetings is David Constantine

Constantine has coined the incumbent as 'No Show Sarega' in a mailer sent to voters, points out Sarega has been absent from 32 percent of council meetings since April 21, 2021 and has missed the equivalent of a year and a half of meetings during his nine years on the city council.

Like Pflanzer, Constantine calls public safety his top priority and also has an extensive resume of service to the community as President of the Kiwanis Club, as a volunteer with Love La Mirada, local PTA's and more. 

Sarega, the two-term incumbent was the youngest person ever elected to the city council at age 25 in 2013 and is seeking a third term despite vowing he would not seek re-election in 2018 during a failed campaign for the 39th congressional seat in Orange County.

Having now reached that term-limit he supported for politicians while he still had four years remaining in his current term, Sarega has now reversed his opinion as his term nears its end telling those attending the Chamber of Commerce candidates forum last night that he now favored letting voters decide if eight years was enough.

Image from Sarega 2018 congressional campaign platform statement

In support of not seeking a third term back in 2018, Sarega states in his election platform "If I am unable to do it in two four-year terms, what are the chances that I will do it in 30".

Sarega has accomplished one goal he championed prior to his election. He successfully joined an effort with the current Mayor, Ed Eng introducing the availability of recorded video from city council meetings online.

Sarega shares the same goal the other candidates possess in expanding the number of sports fields available for youth sports.

Sarega has been promoting a plan to improve the asthetics of La Mirada's major roadways by replacing all the block walls at city expense along those roads. Such a plan if instituted would cost taxpayers $195 Million to $225 million to complete over a 10-year period.

The former police officer lists public safety last on his platform while Constantine and Pflanzer place it as their top priority.

La Mirada Crime Blotter for February 2022

Tues  Feb 1

5:15 a.m.    A catalytic converter theft was reported in the 15000 block of Campillos Rd.

1:45 p.m.    A suspect was arrested at Imperial Hwy and Santa Gertrudes Av behind the Marshall's center for assaulting deputies while resisting detention or arrest.

Weds  Feb 2

3;20 p.m.    An arrest was made in the 12300 block of La Mirada Bl for shoplifting.

3:50 p.m.     An arrest was made for a felony weapons violation in the 14900 block of Leffingwell Rd.

10:10 p.m.   A non-injury hit-and-run collision was reported at Valley View Av and Adoree St

Fri Feb 4

2:50 a.m.     A catalytic converter was reported stolen in the 14400 block of Adelfa Dr.

Sat Feb 5

3:15 a.m.     A vehicle theft was reported in the 15400 block of La Mirada Bl

Sun Feb 6

8:30 a.m.    A vehicle break-in was reported at the La Mirada County Golf Course, 15501 Alicante Rd,  A purse was taken from the vehicle.

2:40 p.m.    The grand theft of a cell phone was reported in the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. The phone was taken from an unlocked vehicle.

8:50 p.m.    A domestic violence assault was reported in the 15700 block of Valley View Av

Mon Feb 7

7:21 p.m.    A shoplifting arrest was made in the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd.

Tues Feb 8

4:00 a.m.     A catalytic converter theft was reported in the 14700 block of Gandesa Rd.

11:59 a.m.   A catalytic converter theft was reported in the 15300 block of San Bruno Dr,

11:52 p.m.  Theft of copper wiring was reported from the construction site in the 13800 block of Valley View Ave. 

5:25 p.m.    A hit-and-run incident was reported at Rosecrans Ave and Santa Gertrudes Ave. No injuroes were suffered in the collision.

Thur Feb 10

4:17 p.m.    A shoplifting arrest was made in the 14200 block of Rosecrans Av.

9:32 p.m.    A known suspect attempted to take a vehicle by force from a woman in the 14300 block of Valley View Ave.

Fri Feb 11

11:59 a.m.   A shoplifting arrest was made in the 15700 block of Imperial Hwy.

6:44 p.m.    An arrest alleging possession of a controlled substance was made at Valley View Av and Gannet St.

Sat Feb 12

2:50 a.m.    A hit-and-run collision was reported at Peppertree Lane and Ranch Lane in the Hillsborough neighborhood of the city. No injuries were reported.

4:37 p.m.    A catalytic converter was stolen from the 13000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave.

9:55 p.m.    An Attempted theft of a truck was reported in the 14400 block of Elmrock Ave.

Mon Feb 14

4:15 a.m.    A vehicle theft was reported in the 14600 block of La Mesa Dr.

8:30 p.m.    Shoplifting was reported in the 15800 block of Imperial Hwy.

8:40 p.m.    Domestic violence was reported in the 13300 blocl of Marlette Dr.

8:50 p.m.    Shoplifting was reported in the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd,

Tues Feb 15

5:46 p.m.    An arrest was made for possession of a controlled substance at Valley View Ave and Rosecrans Ave.

6:12 p.m.    A catalytic converter theft was reported in the 16000 block of Phoebe Av.

10:00 p.m.  An arrest was made in the 16000 block of Canary Ave alleging a felony weapons law violation.

Weds Feb 16

7:25 p.m.    Felony shoplifting (loss over $950) was reported in the 15900 block of Imperial Hwy.

Thur Feb 17

5:00 a.m.    A vehicle theft was reported in the 14700 block of Florita Rd.

12:00 p.m.  A mit-and-run incident was reported at Plantana Dr and Leisure Dr. No injures were reported.

Fri  Feb 18

3:30 a.m.    A burglary at a business was reported in the 16100 block of Canary Ave.

2:35 p.m.    An assault was reported in the 13500 block of Woodridge Ave.

3:30 p.m.    A Domestic violence assault was reported in the 12700 block of Gabbett Dr.

Sun Feb 20

9:22 a.m.    Shoplifting was reported in the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd.

Mon Feb 21

12:22 a.m.  An attempt vehicle theft was reported in the 15600 block of Hesse Dr.

Tues Feb 22

3:00 a.m.    The theft of copper pipes was reported stolen from the construction site in the 13800 blocl of Valley View Av

2:00 p.m.    An arrest was made for possession of a controlled substance in the 14600 block of Firestone Blvd.

3:43 p.m.   An arrest was made for a felony weapons law violation in the 13200 block of Marquardt Ave.

Fri  Feb 25

Midnight    A hit-and-run was reported at Biola Ave and Gardenhill Dr. No injuries were reported.

12:42 a.m.  A residential burglary was reported in the 14500 block of San Cristobal Dr. The suspect was arrested later while driving a stolen vehicle.

The following incidents were also reported in La Mirada in the month of Febuary. Some of the information was unavailable at the time this information was compiled.

*A strong arm robbery was reported at Home Depot. A female assaulted a loss prevention employee as she was taking merchandise that she failed to pay for nor received as a gift.

*Tools were taken from an unlocked vehicle in the 15500 block of Talbot Dr.

*A purse and backpack were taken from an unlocked vehicle in the 14200 block of Rosecrans Ave,

*Catalytic converters were reported stolen in the 13800 block of Adoree Street, and the 13100 block of Ocaso Ave.

Councilman Sarega fined for Political Reform Act violations

File Photo

Updated 2/22/22 6:30 p.m.

La Mirada News has learned that La Mirada City Council member Andrew Sarega has entered into an agreement with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) pending final approval acknowledging six violations of state campaign law during his bid for a second term in 2017.

Sarega will pay a fine of $1,636 as a result of those violations.

An FPPC investigation into Sarega and the candidate-controlled campaign committee 'Sarega for Council 2017' found four violations of the Political Reform Act that requires a notification to the commission within 24 hours anytime a contribution of $1,000 or more is received. 

The agreement states the most serious violation occurred on February 28, 2017, when Sarega failed to notify the commission that he or the committee he controlled paid for an advertisement/mass-mailing just over a week before the election.

Sarega was also fined for twice failing to file statements reporting contributions and expenditures in a timely manner in January and February 2017.

The fine is the third handed down by the FPPC from investigations that were spearheaded by La Mirada Lamplighter Publisher and Editor Brian Hews into the 2017 city elections that included allegations that Sarega, La Mirada Blog owner Tony Aiello a failed candidate in the same election had coordinated their campaigns with outside election committees as evidence by the use of the same Texas firm that specializes in printing and sending out election mailers according Hews reported in the Lamplighter.

No action was taken on the allegations made by Hews but the FPPC fined Aiello $750 last October  for failing to file three required contribution reports within 24 hours as required by law.

Sarega is nearing the end of his second term on council and it is unclear if he will run for a third term in the June elections. 

During an unsuccessful run for the Congressional 39th District seat in 2018 Sarega vowed he would not run again in campaign materials mailed to voters at the time stating he supported term limits adding that any politician that is unable to accomplish their goals in 8 years will not do so in additional terms in office.

La Mirada Sheriff's Crime Blotter 02/09/2022

Tues  Feb 1

5:15 a.m.    A catalytic converter theft was reported in the 15000 block of Campillos Rd.

1:45 p.m.    A suspect was arrested at Imperial Hwy and Santa Gertrudes Av behind the Marshall's center for assaulting deputies while resisting detention or arrest.

Weds  Feb 2

10:10 p.m.   A non-injury hit-and-run collision was reported at Valley View Av and Adoree St

Sat Feb 5

3:15 a.m.     A vehicle theft was reported in the 15400 block of La Mirada Bl

Tues Feb 8

4:00 a.m.     A catalytic converter theft was reported in the 14700 block of Gandesa Rd