A dispute between a West Covina councilmember and her election opponent became physical last week, forcing police to step in and keep the peace.
The row occurred last Tuesday around 8 PM at a Planning Commission meeting.
According to video footage and witness accounts, the altercation involved Councilmember Rosario Diaz, her husband Bill Elliott, and residents Steve Bennett and John Shewmaker.
Shewmaker is challenging Diaz for the District 3 City Council seat, while Bennett is a candidate for the Covina-Valley School District Board of Education…
The Tribune reported that several attendees criticized Brian Gutierrez, a planning commissioner and candidate for the City Council District 1 seat, for his absence at an Oct. 9 candidate forum organized by residents. Speaking to the commission, Elliott defended Gutierrez and called out the forum organizers as being partisan.
The fight apparently occurred on a stairway leading to the parking lot, video shows.
In a statement, City Manager Paulina Morales said the incident is under investigation. She declined to offer further comment.