Stanton Councilwoman Alyce Van went down to a landslide defeat in her bid for a second term.
Community leader Victor Barrios is leading Van by a 23-point margin:
Barrios’ campaign focused on ensuring the city paid attention to the needs of District 2 residents in terms of public safety and ordinary public services like parks and street maintenance. Councilwoman Van was not responsive to District 2 residents, according to Barrios.
He would appear to be correct, as voters handed Van’s re-election bid a stinging rebuke. She lost by a larger margin than any council incumbent in Stanton history.
There were also questions about whether Van lived in the District 2 house where she was registered to vote, or in a larger equestrian estate in District 4 that she and her husband had purchased in District 4.
READ: Stanton: Does Councilwoman Alyce Van Live In Her Council District?
The OC Independent investigated the issue and found the evidence is at best contradictory, and a solid circumstantial case can be made that she actually lives in District 4, and that the house where Van is registered to vote in District 2 is a residence of convenience.
