A split Arcadia City Council on Tuesday postponed voting on applicants to appoint to the District 3 seat vacated by ex-Mayor Eileen Wang, who resigned last month after admitting she acted illegally as a secret agent of the People’s Republic of China.
Mayor Pro Tem David Fu and Councilman Michael Cao said after interviewing applicants at Tuesday’s meeting that lasted well over five hours, they needed more time to weigh the decision on filling the vacancy.
Mayor Paul Cheng and Councilwoman Sharon Kwan favored choosing the appointee Tuesday, as had been publicized and as the council members had agreed following Wang’s resignation, but the stalemate prevented a vote on the matter.
Cheng, Fu and Cao said they wanted to reestablish representation as soon as possible for residents of District 3, which is the smallest geographical council territory primarily between Huntington Drive and Duarte Road to the north and south respectively stretching from the city’s western border eastward to Park Avenue between Campus Drive and Duarte Road.
Focusing on the need for public transparency, Kwan said if the appointment vote did not occur Tuesday, she favored waiting until November to let voters decide.
Detailed information is on the city’s website about the candidates for appointment to fill the vacancy. The city received applications from:
- Walter Besocke, a 49-year resident, a Ford Motor Co. manager;
- Ruby Chang, eight-year resident, freelance apparel technical designer;
- John Han, 10-year resident, self-employed investment manager;
- Gail Littlejohn, two-year resident, assistant property manager;
- Eduardo Magallanes, four-year resident, junior project engineer with Sound Crete Contractors;
- Cynthia Ng Monje, over 20 years in Arcadia, retired senior executive administrator at Jet Propulsion Laboratory;
- Beth Szymkowski, three-year resident, self-employed and Alhambra Unified School District educator, screenwriter, rental property owner;
- Paul Van Fleet, 27-plus years residency, senior claims adjuster for State Fund;
- Lisa Walton, 47-year resident, Bank of America sales vice president;
- William Wu, three-month resident, police chief with the Compton Unified School District and an attorney; and
- Peter Yoo, 36-year resident, NBC Universal senior multimedia manager.
Applicants addressed the council and responded to questions from members during the public meeting Tuesday at the City Hall Council Chambers. Video is available on the city’s website.
Chang, Littlejohn, Magallanes, Wu and Yoo withdrew from consideration prior to the meeting, Assistant City Manager Justine Bruno said.
In an email blast Monday, former Councilwoman April Verlato noted applicant Wu’s ties to Cheng, Fu and Cao.
“With 10 other qualified applicants, many of whom have a long history of living in District 3 and Arcadia, why would the 3 men on council be looking to appoint William Wu?” Verlato wrote.
- “He is a good friend of Paul Cheng’s
- “He will go along with what the 3 men want
- “He’s a police chief and will support more raises for the police union
- “In his application, Wu emphasizes contract negotiations with the unions
“City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto has informed Council Member Kwan that the police and fire unions want to start discussing raises this month even though the current contract does not expire until next year,” according to Verlato.
Lazzaretto denied contract discussions were imminent.
“I have never told anyone that ‘the police and fire unions want to start discussing raises this month,'” he said in an email to HeySoCal.com. “I have not spoken with any of our labor associations about future negotiations. We have a new police chief coming after August 1. We have 3 (council) districts up for election this fall. It wouldn’t make any sense to begin conversations now when so much is in flux. As I said last night during the council meeting, I would expect the contract negotiations to start sometime after the New Year.”
Cheng said a vote on the 2026-27 budget, traditionally due by the end of June when the fiscal year ends, would wait until a new council member is appointed. The mayor also said despite “disruptions” and “erratic behavior” by some meeting attendees, he was encouraged by the 12 individuals who applied to serve District 3.
“Every resident deserves a City Council that is focused on serving the community, addressing priorities, and getting the City’s business done,” Cheng said in a statement to HeySoCal.com.
“Unfortunately, recent meetings have been marked by disruptions from a small group of individuals to prevent the People’s Business from proceeding,” Cheng wrote. “Extended interruptions like yelling, cursing, physical confrontation, and other erratic behavior have delayed important decisions. …
“What should have been a positive and inspiring example of civic engagement became a challenging process that could not be completed. As a result, District 3 residents remain without representation, and other important city matters, including the budget process, is waiting until a new council member can be seated.”
He said the applicants for the D3 seat were “one encouraging takeaway,” adding “that level of civic participation speaks volumes about the character of our community.”
Cheng indicated that “several applicants ultimately withdrew for personal and professional reasons and said he was “grateful to every individual who was willing to raise their hand and help. Their willingness to participate reflects the very best of Arcadia.”
He added that his “focus remains where it has always been: protecting public safety, maintaining fiscal responsibility, supporting our local businesses, investing in our neighborhoods, and ensuring that every resident has confidence in their local government. Disagreements are a natural part of democracy, but they should never overshadow the work that needs to be done on behalf of the people we serve.”
Kwan said District 3 residents should choose their council representative through an election.
“I do not believe four councilmembers should make that decision for them,” she said in a statement to HeySoCal.com.
At the May 19 council meeting, Cao, Cheng and Fu favored an immediate appointment, but Kwan disagreed because “residents deserved the right to choose their own representative,” she said. “If an immediate appointment was so urgent a few weeks ago, why isn’t it urgent now? That is a fair question.”
The District 2 councilwoman also disagreed with Cheng’s assertion that the appointment process was delayed because of alleged disruptions by meeting attendees.
“Residents came to meetings, asked questions, spoke during public comment and wanted more information about the applicants,” Kwan said. “That is not a disruption. That is exactly how government is supposed to work.”
Kwan also confirmed Verlato’s emailed report.
“City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto informed me that employee associations wanted to begin discussing future contracts before the current contracts expire,” Kwan said. “Because employee compensation has a major impact on the City’s budget, I believe residents deserve transparency and public discussion on those matters.
“As for April Verlato’s email, I believe she raised many legitimate questions that deserve answers. Looking back at what has happened, many of the concerns she raised are consistent with what residents have observed themselves. Whether people agree with all of her conclusions or not, she has encouraged residents to pay closer attention to City Hall, and I believe that has been valuable.”
Kwan, who the council censured last year during her term as mayor, added that “residents have questions about William Wu, his relationships with council members and the timing of his move into District 3. Those questions are reasonable and deserve answers.
“When Mr. Wu withdrew from consideration, the entire situation changed. Residents can draw their own conclusions, but it is difficult not to notice that some council members were pushing very hard for an immediate appointment when Mr. Wu was a candidate and then became willing to delay the process after he withdrew.”
She said Cheng, Cao and Fu should explain why their positions changed.
“At the end of the day, this is not about one applicant,” Kwan said. “It is about restoring public trust. Residents deserve a transparent process, honest answers, and confidence that decisions are being made in the best interests of the community.”
Cheng, who became mayor following Wang’s resignation called for the community to “come together around our shared values: family, education, public safety, service, and respect for one another. I encourage those who care deeply about our city to stay engaged, volunteer, serve on a commission, support our veterans and first responders, mentor our youth, and continue contributing to the community we all love.
“Moments of division may capture attention, but they do not define who we are,” Cheng continued. “What defines Arcadia is the strength of our residents, the dedication of our volunteers, the professionalism of our city staff, and the countless acts of service that occur every day throughout our community.
“I remain optimistic about our future. Arcadia has overcome challenges before, and we will do so again,” Cheng concluded. “By treating one another with respect, focusing on solutions, and remembering that we are all working toward the same goal — a stronger and better Arcadia, we will continue moving our city forward together.”
In written remarks submitted with his application, Wu said government “services all come from hard working people. That brings in labor relations as a key focus on keeping the best employees around to serve the residents.”
Wu said he has lived in the San Gabriel Valley for most of his adult life.
“In the past few years, in my interactions with the greater SGV community, it has been brought to up to me that I should consider serving the public in capacities other than as a law enforcement officer, such as on a city council,” Wu wrote, also noting his “many friends and close family who live in Arcadia.”
Cao and Fu did not respond to requests for comment.
Council members said they would again discuss the appointment at the next regular meeting set for June 16 at City Hall.
Wang’s sentencing is scheduled for October, when she could receive a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison for not informing authorities she was a propagandist for Chinese military intelligence agents, who propelled her successful Arcadia City Council campaign in 2022.
Updated June 5, 2026, 12:27 p.m.
