Outtakes from CD 14 Special Report: Former Councilman Art Snyder dead at 79

Art Snyder has gone to the great "CD 14 in the Sky".

A legendary paradox of persona, the former CD 14 City Councilman died in his sleep yesterday morning in Huntington Beach, three days before his 80th Birthday.

Many older, longtime CD 14 constituents will surely opine on the positive/negative attributes of a polarizing political icon. For most knowing CD 14 observers, there was no middle ground of thought when it came to the Spanish-speaking Irish politician.

Surely, some will remember that he was the model for constituent services that has not been matched since his departure. Respected late former staffers Ross Valencia and Lou Santillan were Snyder's neighborhood reps who made sure that the "IN and OUT BOX" of constituent requests, was in constant motion.

Surely, some will remember his behavioral issues which included a deadlock trial for drunk driving, womanizing, and ethical issues that continue beyond his political career as a lobbyist.

In 1984 as Snyder faced his most formidable election challenge from then Assemblyman Richard Alatorre, a mom and her high school senior son, sat with Snyder at a "meet and greet", in the home of the late Gang Councelor Ana Lizarraga. Snyder and the mom, found to their amazement that they were distantly-related through family links in Indiana.

Some 28 years later, the same high school senior looks back on that chance encounter and offers his respects to the family of a CD 14 political legend, who in the course of his political being, was either love or hated by constituents, but is now at peace.

Your thoughts ................
Scott Johnson in CD 14