Long Beach candidates on the ballot in March’s election

The deadline for Long Beach councilmember candidates passed on Dec. 8, and the final list of candidates includes returning members and challengers for their seat. Residents have less than three months to learn about these candidates before casting their vote in the March 5 election. 

The even-numbered district seats are up for election in 2024, meaning districts 2, 4, 6 and 8 may see new representatives. Councilmember Al Austin of District 8 has served his maximum terms allowed, while Vice Mayor Cindy Allen, District 4 Councilmember Daryl Supernaw and District 6 Councilmember Suely Saro have the chance to be re-elected. 

Long Beach councilmembers serve four-year terms. Long Beach residents can register to vote at https://registertovote.ca.gov/. 

Election candidates are as followed: 

District 2

• Cindy Allen: Allen has represented District 2 since 2020 as a councilmember and was unanimously appointed by the council to the position of Vice Mayor in December 2022. Allen grew up in Long Beach and is a former police officer, mother, former small business owner and Cal State Long Beach alumnus. Her candidate statement includes a list of her accomplishments which include prioritizing public safety, improving parks and creating more local jobs. 
• Ketty Citterio: Citterio is the president of Friends of Bixby Park, a board member of LB Reuses and a senior services provider. She has helped to activate Bixby Park with events, monthly clean-ups and more. Her top three priorities listed in her candidate statement are homelessness, safety and parking. 
• Sara Zaidi: Zaidi holds a PhD degree in education and is a professor and educational consultant, but she stated that being a mother tops all of these accomplishments. She said that her platform has been heavily impacted by her time serving on the Long Beach Commission for Youth & Families, and wants to focus on youth, education and social impact. 

District 4

• Herlinda Chico: Chico has been serving as the president of the Long Beach City College Board since December 2020 and is set to finish her four-year term in 2024. Chico has been campaigning publicly all year, and announced she has the support of multiple congress members and community leaders. She described her top priorities as public safety, protecting and activating open spaces and challenging the growth of homelessness. 
• Gerrie Schipske: Schipske is an healthcare consumer attorney who stated she’s running for the District 4 council seat out of concern for the council’s recent actions. She worked for the City as a Public Information Officer and Citizen Participation Coordinator before leaving for the legal arena. In her statement, she said she wishes to improve community safety, the streets and parks, and the City’s financial health. 
• Amrit Singh: Singh is an interventional cardiologist in Long Beach, and states a resolution to homelessness as his first priority. Other goals listed in his candidate statement include protecting small businesses, traffic safety, public safety, funding the police, bolstering mental health and preventative health care. 
• Daryl Supernaw: Supernaw has represented District 4 since 2015, and if re-elected, this will be his final term. Supernaw takes pride in his office being efficient and quick, resulting in what he estimates is 46% of its annual budget each year, which goes toward events and street repairs. He’s gained endorsements from the Long Beach Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ Associations. 

District 6 

• Cristino Pinto: Pinto writes in her candidate statement that she is running to address the high poverty in her district. Her two main focuses are to increase inclusion by hosting town hall meetings and to decrease inequality through a “better distribution of resources and opportunities.” 
• Suely Saro: Saro has been representing District 6 since 2020, after beginning her career as a labor organizer for janitors and healthcare workers. She is the only candidate who’s endorsed by Long Beach firefighters and teachers, according to her candidate statement. She cites her main concerns as improving public safety, supporting local businesses, cleaning up streets and sidewalks, investing in parks and improving city services. 

District 8 

• Sharifa Batts: Batts currently serves as the head of Environment and Sustainability at Ports America, has degrees from Long Beach City College and Pepperdine University and is a former Olympic qualifier. In her candidate statement, she emphasizes public safety, reducing street homelessness, attracting small businesses, creating good-paying jobs and repairing streets and sidewalks. 
• Tunua Thrash-Ntuk: Thrash-Ntuk served on the Long Beach Transit Board of Directors and holds degrees from UC Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her top priorities in her candidate statement include investing in public safety, preventing homelessness, fixing the streets and expanding economic opportunity for all. 

This article was updated on Dec. 18 to correct the year that Herlinda Chico became president of the Long Beach City College Board. The Signal Tribune regrets this error.