Maribel De La Torre

Maribel De La Torre, the top vote-getter this week in the San Fernando City Council race, will likely become part of a new majority on the council that favors preserving the small-town atmosphere of the blue-collar city of 25,000 in the northeast San Fernando Valley. De La Torre will join her sister, Cindy Montanez, on the five-member panel, making them what many believe are the only siblings elected to serve simultaneously on a city council in the county.

Former San Fernando Councilman Mario Hernandez, who resigned his post after his affair with Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre turned acrimonious last month, asked the district attorney's office Monday to drop charges of battery and vandalism against his ex-lover. Prosecutors, however, say they will continue to pursue the case. It is the latest turn in a tempestuous relationship first revealed by Hernandez in November when he announced at a City Council meeting that he and De la Torre were having an affair.

Former San Fernando Councilman Mario Hernandez, who resigned his post after his affair with Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre turned acrimonious last month, asked the district attorney's office Monday to drop charges of battery and vandalism against his ex-lover. Prosecutors, however, say they will continue to pursue the case. It is the latest turn in a tempestuous relationship first revealed by Hernandez in November when he announced at a City Council meeting that he and De la Torre were having an affair.

San Fernando Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre was charged Friday with vandalism and battery of her former lover and fellow council member, the latest chapter in a City Hall soap opera that has residents of the small town fed up. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office filed the two misdemeanor charges against the 41-year-old councilwoman in the June 28 incident, which Mario Hernandez reported to San Fernando police. De la Torre allegedly attempted to strangle her then-colleague and smashed his laptop computer, according to authorities.

A San Fernando councilman who publicly revealed that he was having an affair with a colleague last year has resigned. Councilman Mario Hernandez's resignation came just days after the City Council unexpectedly fired the city's police chief. Hernandez submitted his letter of resignation Tuesday, saying: "Unfortunately, our city became entangled in my personal life back in November and once again faces the same challenge today. I wish to apologize to the community. " Residents who gathered outside Tuesday night's council meeting expressed disgust with the council.

San Fernando Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre was charged Friday with vandalism and battery of her former lover and fellow council member, the latest chapter in a City Hall soap opera that has residents of the small town fed up. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office filed the two misdemeanor charges against the 41-year-old councilwoman in the June 28 incident, which Mario Hernandez reported to San Fernando police. De la Torre allegedly attempted to strangle her then-colleague and smashed his laptop computer, according to authorities.

San Fernando and Calabasas voters go to the polls today to elect new council members. In Calabasas seven candidates, including two incumbents, are running for three seats on the five-member council. The incumbents are James Bozajian, a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, and Lesley Devine, a freelance environmental consultant.

In the final days of his mayoral campaign, James K. Hahn criticized the mixing of emotion and politics. "You don't get emotional in politics," he said the weekend before the June 5 runoff election against Antonio Villaraigosa. But on Saturday morning, as the incoming mayor administered the oath of office to his sister, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, emotion was unavoidable.

Development dominated local elections Tuesday, with opponents of a massive housing project near Calabasas and foes of large commercial development in San Fernando victorious. In complete unofficial returns, incumbents James Bozajian and Lesley Devine were reelected to the Calabasas City Council. The third candidate elected out of a field of seven was newcomer Michael Harrison. All three oppose the Ahmanson Ranch housing development.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's school-reform team Monday unveiled its latest set of alterations designed to bulletproof pending legislation that would give the mayor substantial authority over Los Angeles public schools. The new version addresses key criticisms, but officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District were decidedly unmoved. State lawmakers are expected to take up the bill next week in Sacramento, with school district officials still strongly opposed.

A San Fernando councilman who publicly revealed that he was having an affair with a colleague last year has resigned. Councilman Mario Hernandez's resignation came just days after the City Council unexpectedly fired the city's police chief. Hernandez submitted his letter of resignation Tuesday, saying: "Unfortunately, our city became entangled in my personal life back in November and once again faces the same challenge today. I wish to apologize to the community. " Residents who gathered outside Tuesday night's council meeting expressed disgust with the council.

Maribel De La Torre, the top vote-getter this week in the San Fernando City Council race, will likely become part of a new majority on the council that favors preserving the small-town atmosphere of the blue-collar city of 25,000 in the northeast San Fernando Valley. De La Torre will join her sister, Cindy Montanez, on the five-member panel, making them what many believe are the only siblings elected to serve simultaneously on a city council in the county.

As the noon deadline passed Saturday for candidates to enter Los Angeles' mayoral, City Council and school board elections in March, several new names emerged in various races, but there were no major surprises. In a contest likely to foreshadow coming battles on the Board of Education, the field to replace Westside school board member Marlene Canter will include charter-school advocates, teachers and parents.

Two San Fernando council members who publicly acknowledged having an affair last November have taken out restraining orders against each other after an alleged violent confrontation, city officials said. Councilman Mario Hernandez and Councilwoman Maribel de la Torre sought the court orders after the June 28 incident, officials said. De la Torre is also the subject of a related police investigation. An officer responding to a call at Hernandez's home on June 28 found the residence had been ransacked and noticed red marks and scratches on the councilman's neck, according to a police report.