Snyder Gives Himself a Rain Check on Quitting

Councilman Arthur K. Snyder--who three months ago, amid allegations that he had molested his young daughter, dramatically announced that he would resign July 1--on Tuesday said he may not leave office until September.

The continuing fight to prevent closure of Boyle Heights’ Cathedral High School and voting for council president July 2 are two reasons why he may not leave as scheduled, he said, although he added that he is “definitely” still leaving.

“I’m gone, I’m definitely not staying,” Snyder said. “But some things are in flux. There are some things I want to finish that I’m not going to just cut off.”

But the major reason Snyder cited in January for leaving office--his wife’s pregnancy--has been removed as Snyder said Tuesday that his wife had a miscarriage last month, raising further questions as to whether Snyder plans to resign at all. In the last few months, he has declared several times that “thousands” of supporters have signed petitions urging him to stay in office.

Snyder, who represents the Eastside’s predominantly Latino 14th Councilmanic District, has long been the focus for many who want to replace him with a Latino on the City Council. That, combined with complaints about various controversies including admitted conflict-of-interest violations, led to unsuccessful recall attempts in 1974 and 1984.

With the city’s burgeoning Latino population, Snyder’s successor could wield considerable clout as a Latino spokesman not only in the city but nationwide. As a result, Snyder’s decision to resign has been watched with keen interest by Latino activists, including Assemblyman Richard Alatorre (D-Los Angeles), who wants Snyder’s job.

When Snyder called his surprise press conference Jan. 2 to say he would retire, he said his wife, Delia, 34, was expecting a child in August and “it is my conclusion that on the advice of her doctor that she deserves a more peaceful and productive life than I have been able to give her in the past two years.”

He said his decision to resign had nothing to do with the Dec. 24 ruling by a Dependency Court judge. Judge Edward Kakita found sufficient evidence to support the allegation that Snyder had sexually abused his 9-year-old daughter several times four or five years ago.

The child last month was placed in a foster home after Kakita found that living with either Snyder or her mother, Michele Noval, would be “detrimental” to the girl’s well-being. Snyder has repeatedly denied the allegations and blamed the problems on the “frustration, anger and mentally ill fantasies” of his ex-wife.

In the meantime, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office said Tuesday that he expects a decision in the next month whether to file criminal charges against Snyder.

Philip Wynn, director of the bureau of special operations, said the Snyder case is “under investigation” with a “priority status.” While the district attorney deliberates, the statute of limitations may be running out.

Five Years Ago

The allegations in the Snyder case date back roughly five years. The statute of limitations for child molestation currently is six years.

(However, even that six-year statute is being challenged in the courts because of a recent change in state law that may inadvertently cut the statute of limitation to three years for molestation offenses before 1982. A Los Angeles judge is expected to rule on the issue this week.)

Alatorre said Tuesday that he has “no control over when Snyder resigns. Now it becomes a question of when. Whenever he does it, July 2 or Sept. 1 or whatever, I’m running. And if he doesn’t resign, I’ll run in 1987 (when Snyder’s term expires).”

Steve Rodriguez, who led a fight to recall Snyder last year, said he too will run for the office whenever it is available. “I think it all depends on if the D.A. files charges or not. If they don’t, I don’t think he’ll leave.”