La Mirada Mayor Gabe Garcia Arrested For DUI

[Voice of Reason]

La Mirada Lamplighter wrote:
THIS ARTICLE WAS UPDATED ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013 AT 1 p.m.

By Randy Economy
La Mirada Mayor Gabe Garcia was arrested last Thursday night after he was involved in a vehicle accident while driving under the influence, the La Mirada Lamplighter and Los Cerritos Community Newspaper has learned.
Garcia was driving along the 14700 Block of Tacuba Road in La Mirada at around 10:30 p.m. when he struck an unknown object, according to Captain Pat Maxwell of the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station.
Maxwell said that Garcia was held at the Norwalk Station for approximately eight hours before being released after a citation was issued. Garcia also works as a Reserve for the Orange Police Department.
At least three residents who live on Tacuba Road, who did not want to be publicly identified, told The Lamplighter that they confronted Garcia after the crash that left at least two vehicles with damages, including Garcia’s car.
“He was totally confused. We hear this loud crash and came out of our houses to see what was going on,” one resident told the Lamplighter.
“The guy (Garcia) was dazed, he didn’t even know where he was, he even asked what city he was in,” the resident said.
Witnesses said that Garcia even attempted to pick up the several pieces of the damaged vehicles and “put them inside his car.”
“He even took the destroyed bumper of one of the damaged cars and put it on his passenger side seat, then he tried to restart the car and drive away but the car was totally wrecked,” another witness said.
Neighbors said that they watched Garcia make at least three phone calls on his cell phone and that he left the scene on Tacuba Road and began walking “several blocks away to Gabbet Street where he was eventually caught by a female deputy with the La Mirada Sheriff’s Station.
Garcia was placed in the back of a patrol car where he was brought back to the scene of the accident and then eventually taken into custody for processing.
When neighbors were told that Garica was the current Mayor of La Mirada at the scene, one of them told the Lamplighter that they were “dumbfounded.”
Garcia is currently running for reelection to the La Mirada City Council in the upcoming Tuesday, March 5th ballot.
“We had no idea he was the Mayor of La Mirada. He didn’t mention a word to anyone about who he was, it was shocking,” the neighbor said.
“I know one thing for sure, this neighborhood isn’t going to be voting for him on Election Day,” the resident said.

[Give me a break]

Let he who has never committed a wrong throw the first stone (or words as you may have it here) ....

[Poquito Juanito]

AA does work.

Resigning a $165,000 job for the city of Corona must be pretty close to hitting bottom.

Official Lamplighter Endorsement: Elect Steve Keithly to the La Mirada City Council

Elections in La Mirada for city council haven’t been a contact sport, until this year.

With the recent arrest of Mayor Gabe Garcia on drunken driving allegations this campaign for two city council slots has become a barnburner in the city that rarely gets into the political fray.

Garcia has lost the confidence of the community, and his peers, and he should have done the right thing and drop out of this campaign.

But, he chooses to stay and now the voters of La Mirada must move forward by electing Planning Commissioner Steve Keithly on March 5.

[Wow]

La Mirada City Council Election

Mr. Garcia's actions is just another case of a person who thought he was above the law.

Mr. Garcia should put his ego aside and consider his family and the residents of La Mirada first and withdraw from the race.

All that damaage because of 1 glass of wine?

Vote for a representative for city council who you believe will set a good example and a positive influence for our city and children.

[Barbate]

Give me a break wrote:

Let he who has never committed a wrong throw the first stone (or words as you may have it here)....

This has nothing to do with stone throwing. Everyone makes mistakes. He's human. We don't need to judge him at all. But we also don't need to vote for him either.

[Fan of both Leagues]

Barbate wrote:

<quoted text>
This has nothing to do with stone throwing. Everyone makes mistakes. He's human. We don't need to judge him at all. But we also don't need to vote for him either.

Mr. Garcia has done a great job as a councilman for the people of La Mirada. He made a big mistake and now must pay for it. Bill Clinton had sex with an intern while married in the white house and got less grief than Mr. Garcia. What is really important is if Mr. Garcia is doing something to insure he does not make this mistake again. We are all human and I would bet that many of us have driven after they had something to drink. Drinking and driving is a serious offense that should not be taken lightly, but I am more interested to see if Mr. Garcia seeks help and solves his problem. Addiction is not a character defect, but it is a disease which can be controlled with help. Mr. Garcia deserves the chance to get that help, if he does not than I think it becomes a character issue.

[Telfair]

The guy screwed up. It happens. Don't judge the dude. But I agree with some other posters here. Don't judge him unfairly, but he may not be the example you want on a city council.

[La Mirada City Council]

First of all alcohol addiction is not a disease. Yes, you can live in a home with people who are alcoholics but you do not have to become one. Garcia spouts community safety, etc. Not such a good example. He got caught and the city of La Mirada does not need this embarrassment. How can you compare Clinton to a city with a small population like La Mirada. Come On!