Arthur K. Snyder

Arthur K. Snyder is a lawyer and was a politician in Los Angeles, California. During his time as a politician he was known as Art Snyder but later in life has taken to using his formal name.

Art Snyder joined Los Angeles City Council in 1967. He represented the Fourteenth District, which includes the communities of Eagle Rock, Highland Park, and Boyle Heights. He gained office upon the death of Councilman John Holland, whom he had served as Chief of Staff. Snyder was later elected and remained in office through re-election until resigning amid a sexual scandal involving his daughter and another young woman in January 1985, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Snyder occupied his seat at a time of demographic transformation, when the population of his district was rapidly becoming Latino-majority. In 1971, a state supreme court decision (Calderon v. Los Angeles) illegalized the city's existing scheme of dividing districts based on registered voters rather than eligible voters. In the wake of that decision, the Council voted almost unanimously (Snyder offered the only dissenting vote) to redraw the Fourteenth District to reflect its Latino majority.

Even without the benefits of gerrymandering, Snyder continued to represent the district. His constituent service and efforts to remain in contact with his changing district allowed him to survive politically as his district changed to become over 75% Hispanic, despite a number of challenges, two failed recall efforts, and lawsuits by Snyder against contenders.

Still, by the early 1980s his continued position seemed an anachronism. In the 1982 election that finally saw Latino politicians return to the council, challenger Steve Rodriguez nearly forced a run-off, failing primarily because he lacked strong support from other Latino politicians.

After the second recall, Snyder eventually resigned before the end of his term amid the scandal of a messy divorce from the second of his three wives, and claims of child molestation against him by his daughter Erin Marisol Snyder. During a hearing on those charges Snyder pleaded the Fifth Amendment dozens of times. a few years later, Snyder's daughter later recanted her accusations of molestation, and after a financial settlement with his second wife, lived with Snyder.

Snyder later became a lobbyist and in 1996 was found guilty of an elaborate money laundering scheme whereby various friends, relatives and associates made campaign donations to politicians and were then repaid with money from his clients. At the time the Los Angeles Times stated his fine by the California Fair Political Practices Commission was the largest ever. In 2001 he was temporarily disciplined by the California State Bar Association, and had to stop the practice of law for six months, as a result of his 1996 conviction.

Snyder is presently a semi retired lawyer and real estate investor with holdings in Las Vegas and Texas. He maintains his Eagle Rock home as a Law office serving his friends and former clients on a part time basis.

References

* "Snyder, Ex-Wife Both Lose Custody of Their Daughter", Los Angeles Times, March 6, 1985
* "Snyder Won't Be Charged With Alleged Molestation Deputy D.A. Calls Child a `Reluctant Witness,' Mother `Unstable' in Decision Not to Prosecute", Los Angeles Times, May 3, 1985

External links

* [http://www.hispanicvista.com/hvc/Opinion/Guest_Columns/101104schmal.htm article on Hispanic politics in Los Angeles that discusses Snyder]
* [http://www.publicartinla.com/sculptures/Lincoln_Park/parque.html Snyder's grateful constituents - a plaque in his honor]
* [http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/2cbj/01dec/attdisc.htm California Bar Association - his discipline for the money laundering scheme]