TEMPLE CITY - A simple toss of a coin has unseated an incumbent on the Temple City City Council, it was reported Saturday.

Incumbent Dan Arrighi and former Councilman Fernando Vizcarra were in a dead heat after Tuesday's elections. Mary Flandrick, Temple City city clerk, suggested a coin toss to break the tie and Arrighi agreed.

"Dan was visibly upset," at the outcome, Vizcarra told the Pasadena Star-News. "I feel sorry for Dan," he continued. "This was no way to lose an election. I would have been happy to have another vote."

Another vote would have cost about $35,000.

Tuesday's Temple City municipal election had three council seats open and eight candidates, three incumbents and five challengers. Two incumbents, David Capra and Judy Wong, won re-election easily.

Vizcarra said he was so upset he didn't take part in the coin toss. "I didn't touch the coin," he told the Star-News. "I didn't call heads or tails. I refused to participate, but they did it anyway."

Vizcarra will be sworn in at the March 20 council meeting. Arrighi and Vizcarra have similar views about many issues affecting Temple City. Many residents view Vizcarra as more forceful than Arrighi in voicing his opinions, but Vizcarra's win is unlikely to change the council's balance of power. CNS-03-10-2007 07:32