Community Mourns Bell Council Candidate

Funeral arrangements are pending for a City Council reform  candidate in scandal-plagued Bell, who died just days before the upcoming  election.

Family and friends participated in a march and candlelight vigil Sunday night for Miguel Alejandro  Sanchez, 34, who died Friday afternoon at Los Angeles County-USC Medical  Center.

The cause of death was not released, but his brother, Jorge Sanchez,  told the Bell Gardens Sun that Sanchez had been sick with flu-like symptoms for  about a week before he went to the hospital Friday morning. He said his brother  may have had swine flu.

Sanchez is on the ballot in Tuesday's special recall election in Bell.  He was running for the seat of former Councilman Luis Artiga, who resigned last  fall amid allegations that he and other city officials misappropriated public  funds and paid themselves inflated salaries.  

Sanchez was a part-time teacher's aide for the Los Angeles Unified  School District and also worked part-time for the parks and recreation  department in Bell.

He was among the many residents who protested outside Bell City  Hall last summer, demanding the resignations of city officials who were  receiving large salaries.

Sanchez was part of a "Justice for Bell'' slate with council candidates Mario Rivas and Nestor Valencia.