SAN GABRIEL VALLEY ELECTIONS : Metal Buildings Issue Rusts as S. El Monte Keys on Personalities

What to do about 237 unsightly metal buildings seems like it would have been a made-to-order issue that might have assured a lively campaign in the April 8 municipal election.

On one side are Mayor John Gonzales and Councilman Greg Meis, who supported a strict ordinance to remove the deteriorating structures. On the other side are Councilmen Ignacio (Slim) Gracia and Albert Perez, part of the three-member majority that pushed through a compromise measure allowing the buildings to be refurbished rather than demolished.

The issue, which would have affected the appearance and business climate of this mostly industrial city for years to come, had been hotly debated for months before the City Council acted in February. All four men are candidates in an election that some thought would be a referendum on metal buildings.

As it turns out, personalities rather than issues have taken center stage, and this year’s election has thus far evoked less interest than any political contest in recent memory.

In a city that historically fields a dozen or more candidates for local office, only half that number are running.

Gonzales, who is seeking a second two-year term as mayor, is being challenged by Perez, who has two years of his four-year council term remaining and therefore will remain in office even if he loses the mayor’s race.

Competing with Meis and Gracia in the council race are former Mayor Jim Kelly and Planning Commissioner Homer Wilson.

In the mayoral race, Gonzales has been accused by Perez, a former ally on the council who supported Gonzales in his first bid for mayor, of being dictatorial and aloof. In an interview last week, Perez complained that Gonzales has not kept fellow council members informed on important matters.

Earlier this year, Perez joined councilmen Gracia and Stanley Quintana in censuring Gonzales for appointing his wife to an unpaid post on a special census commission without consulting the council. Perez, a 54-year-old engineer, said Gonzales has alienated and embarrassed his colleagues by refusing to sit with them at head tables during official functions.

Perez minimized the importance of metal buildings as an election issue. “The people are satisfied with it (the compromise ordinance) the way it is,” said Perez, a 14-year council veteran, who contended that jobs would be lost and the city would lose sales tax revenue if the metal buildings were removed.

” . . . As far as I’m concerned, the only issue is the political climate at City Hall. He (the mayor) doesn’t communicate with us. He doesn’t talk to us. I don’t think we should have a split council like that. Of course we have differences of opinion, but after the City Council meetings, we can go down and have a beer together and talk and laugh about it. Gonzales never joins us. I thought if he was a good councilman he would be a good mayor. It turned out opposite.”

Gonzales, a 51-year-old bookbinder, says Perez’s comments are “nothing more than pettiness.”

“I’m not of the old-boy school,” said Gonzales, who served one council term before becoming mayor. “I put the city’s concerns ahead of my desire to have a beer. They get offended because I do not like head tables. When we go to a dinner, I am of the opinion that we’re there for (the guests). They are not there for us. I enjoy sitting at a table and conversing. . . .

“The issues are metal buildings and trying to get some new revenue-producing business, but it’s personalities more than anything else” being discussed by Perez.

Won’t Let Issue Die

In the council race, Meis has vowed to make the election a referendum on metal buildings. Meis, a 55-year-old salesman who has been on the council since 1980, joined Gonzales in the unsuccessful effort to enforce the 20-year-old ordinance, which would have taken effect this year, requiring the removal of all metal buildings in town. Meis said the buildings are a blight, that they hurt the image of the city and hamper its ability to attract much-needed revenue-producing businesses.

“I’m standing with John Gonzales,” Meis said. “We’re the only ones who seem to be standing firm for a better deal.”

Gracia, a 66-year-old retired salesman, said he believes the metal building issue is dead and that development is a more important priority. “We have talked about bringing in business,” said Gracia, who has been on the council since 1980. “We should get actively involved in trying to work with developers to bring some sort of mall or shopping center into our city.”

Financial Crisis Feared

Kelly said he decided to run for office again because he fears that the city, which has had virtually stagnant sales tax revenue for several years, may face a financial crisis if Congress eliminates the $500,000-a-year federal revenue sharing funds South El Monte has been receiving. Kelly, a 55-year-old truck driver who was on the council from 1976 to 1980 and served as the first elected mayor from 1980 to 1982, said his experience in government would be needed in the pinch.

But Kelly, a longtime friend of Meis, acknowledged that at least part of his decision to seek office again was personal. “I would never have run until I heard Meis say that the best mayor this city ever had was John Gonzales,” said Kelly, who has been serving on the Planning Commission. “That meant that I was no damn good.”

Wilson, a 69-year-old retired welding equipment salesman, is the only newcomer in the race. Wilson has been active in senior citizen groups and serves on the Human Services Commission. He said he favored removal of the metal buildings, but added that “what they’ve got is an improvement.” He also is concerned that the city is falling behind its neighbors in economic development, but acknowledged that he has no specific solution to that problem.

What Wilson does offer, he says, is a new face. “I’m the only one who hasn’t run before. I thought the others had been in too long and we needed a change.”