Democrats expel Ontario Councilman Avila

Ontario Councilman
Paul Vincent Avila

Democrats can go to Hell, says Democrat candidate




Ontario Councilman Paul Vincent Avila's unorthodox decision to endorse an opponent in the race for a vacant state Senate seat has led to his expulsion from the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee.
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And Avila isn't exactly in a mood to make nice with his party's local leadership. ."I've still achieved what I've achieved without them," he said in a telephone interview. "They can go to hell." ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Avila, who was elected in November to the Ontario council without spending money, is one of six candidates running to succeed Rep. Gloria Negrete- McLeod in the state Senate in a primary election scheduled for March 12 reports the Contra Costa Times.   ...............................................................................................................................................  

 

 

   McLeod represented the 32nd state Senate District, which spans from Pomona to San Bernardino, before joining the House of Representatives this year. Ontario Mayor Paul Leon, a Republican, is also in the race to succeed McLeod. Avila threw his support in the race to Leon last month, saying his decision was based on his respect for Leon's leadership in helping to keep Ontario's budget balanced during the past recession.

GOP Senate Candidate
Paul Leon, Mayor of Ontario
Leon for Senate

But openly supporting a rival party's candidate is against the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee's rules. "Notwithstanding the peculiarity of endorsing someone you're running against, the endorsement of a Republican by any member of the Democratic Central Committee is a serious violation of our fundamental purpose, values, and responsibilities to the Democratic voters of San Bernardino (County)," Chris Robles, the chairman of the county Democratic Party, said in a statement.

The local party's leadership voted to expel Avila on Thursday. Avila said he does not believe his own values are in line with the local Democratic Party, which he said is too responsive to the political interests of gays and lesbians. Avila said he would be a Republican, except he disagrees with the GOP's traditional support for strict immigration policies.

The state Democratic Party has endorsed Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Chino, in the state Senate race. The other candidates are Pomona Planning Commissioner Kenny Coble, Rialto Unified School District board member Joanne Gilbert and San Bernardino County Treasurer/Tax Collector Larry Walker. Coble is a Republican. Gilbert and Walker are Democrats.

32nd State Senate District.
Includes the Southern California communities of Pomona, Ontario, Fontana and Rialto.