Among the offices on the ballot for the Tuesday, Nov. 6 election in Long Beach and Signal Hill will be the 44th and 47th districts of the United States House of Representatives, the 70th district of the California State Assembly, and the 33rd district of the State Senate.
The Signal Tribune requested that each of the candidates seeking those seats submit information on his or her campaign, the results of which are published below. (For information about city and county measures that will also appear on the Nov. 6 ballot, see page 5.)
Janice Hahn
Party affiliation Democrat
Age 60
Years residing in district For over two decades
Previous offices held
I was a member of the Los Angeles City Council for the 15th District where I chaired the Council’s Trade, Commerce, and Tourism Committee, and oversaw the Port of LA, LA Convention Center, and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Prior to being elected to the LA City Council, I was elected to represent the 15th Council District on the Charter Reform Commission.
Occupation
Member of Congress, 36th Congressional District. In Congress, I serve on the Homeland Security Committee and Small Business Committee.
Education
Graduated with a teaching degree from Abilene Christian University, Albilene, Texas
Family
I was born in Los Angeles and raised in San Pedro. My father, Kenneth Hahn, was a former Los Angeles County Supervisor and my brother is James Hahn, the former mayor of Los Angeles. I also have three grown-up children and five beautiful grandchildren.
Goals if elected/Platform
Despite the toxic and partisan environment in Washington, I will continue to be a champion for workers, the advancement of their rights, and grow our nation’s middle class through consensus building.
In my current role in Congress as the co-founder of the PORTS Caucus, I intend to lead in pushing for reforms to ensure our Port’s continued competitiveness by increasing trade and bringing more businesses to the Port, in order to create more good-paying middle-class jobs.
Endorsements
Los Angeles Times
California Labor Federation
California State Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal
California State Assemblymember Isadore Hall
California State Assemblymember Ricardo Lara
Campaign website
janicehahn.com
Laura Richardson
Party affiliation Democrat
Age 50
Years residing in district 18
Previous offices held
City Council, City of Long Beach— 6th District
State Assembly, California— 55th District
Congress, California— 37th District
Occupation Congresswoman • Member of Congress for the U.S. House of Representatives
Education
Bachelor’s in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles
Master’s in business from the University of Southern California
Family
Single. Mother, sister, nephew and three godsons.
Nonprofit/professional affiliations
Miller Children’s Hospital (Long Beach), NAACP, NCNW, etc.
Goals
Jobs and employment
• Focus job training on industries that are hiring such as health care, transportation and logistics, etc.
• Work to ensure that my constituents are aware of available jobs and training
• Work with small businesses to provide information and access to resources
• Provide incentives to companies who bring jobs back to the US or hire those who are currently unemployed
Helping seniors
• Protect Social Security and Medicare
• Oppose all cuts to Social Security and Medicare
• Oppose all attempts to change the requirements to the retirement age
Education
• Support adequate funding for early childhood education, special education and adult vocational training
• Support fair and comparable teacher salaries
• Oppose further college tutition increases and reduction of classes
Fix the economy
• End the 10 years of US war and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan and use those billions of dollars every month to fund our schools, our crumbling roads and highways and to pay down the deficit
Endorsements
Long Beach City Councilman Dee Andrews
Long Beach City Councilman Steve Neal
Former Long Beach City Councilwoman Rae Gaeblich
Former Long Beach City Councilman Val Lerch
Eric Bradley, Controller of the California Democratic Party
Rex Richardson, President of Long Beach Democratic Club
Working people of the Carpenters, City Employees (Machinists),Food and Commercial Workers, Laborers, Longshoreman, Teamsters, and more.
Website
richardson.us and info@laurarichardson4congress.com
Gary DeLong
Party affiliation Republican
Age 52
Years residing in district Three decades
Previous offices held 3rd District Council in city of Long Beach
Occupation President/Owner of RTP Group— telecom company
Education
BA Cal State Dominguez Hills
MBA USC Marshall School of Business
Family Wife and three daughters
Goals if elected/Platform
I am running for Congress because I want to bring common-sense solutions to the partisan gridlock. We must work together to solve problems, and set aside ideology and labels so we can move forward together.
The goal is to achieve progress— building consensus is the means by which we arrive there. Partisanship is the single greatest obstacle to the progress we all agree our nation needs.
We need more members of Congress who will make taxpayers— not special-interest groups— their highest priority.
Endorsements
Former Governor George Deukmejian
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe
Long Beach City Auditor Laura Doud
Lakewood Mayor Diane DuBois
Signal Hill Councilmember Larry Forester
Nonprofit/professional affiliations
Councilmember, city of Long Beach
Chair of Budget Oversight Committee
Chair of the Alameda Corridor Transit Authority
Long Beach City Economic Development Commission
Aquarium of the Pacific Board of Directors
Long Beach Chamber of Commerce
Government Affairs Council
Long Beach City College Foundation Board of Governors
Long Beach Public Library Advisory Board of Directors
California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ)
Rotary Club of Long Beach
Wilson High School PTA
ChildNet Youth & Family Services Board of Directors
Goodwill Industries of Southern California Board of Directors
Campaign website
GaryDeLong.com
Alan Lowenthal
Party affiliation Democratic
Age 71
Years residing in district 40-plus years
Previous offices held
Long Beach City Council (1992-1998)
California State Assembly (1998-2004)
California State Senate (2004-2012)
Occupation
Former college professor
Education
Ph.D from The Ohio State University
Family
Dr. Deborah Malumed (wife), Josh and Daniel Lowenthal (sons)
Nonprofit/professional affiliations
Californians for Disability Rights, American Psychological Association, California Faculty Association, Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club
Goals if elected/Platform
Passing the President’s American Jobs Act, protecting the social safety net, and fighting any threats to quality, affordable education; to the environment; to protections guaranteeing equality for all; a woman’s right to choose; and, to a fair and equitable tax system.
Endorsements
Former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill
California Small Business Association
Long Beach Police Officers Association
International Association of Fire Fighters
American Federation of Teachers
Campaign website AlanLowenthal.com
Martha Flores-Gibson
Party affiliation Republican
Age 58
Years residing in district 51
Previous offices held
Chair of New Image Shelter
Board Member, Kiwanis
Occupation Teacher/ business owner
Education
BSW CSULB
MSW CSULB
Ed.D Educational Leadership and Change, Fielding University
Family
Steve Gibson, husband
Bryan Desmond Rico, 41, treasurer and captain, Bakersfield Fire Department
Jonahvan Paul Rico, 33, paramedic, Los Angeles Fire Department
Veronica Niclole Rico, 31, nurse supervisor
Nonprofit/professional affiliations
American Business Women’s Association (past president)
Long Beach Kiwanis, Board of Directors
Math, Engineer, and Science Academy (MESA), regional coordinator
New Image Emergency Shelter, chairman
Rebuilding Together Long Beach, committee member
Long Beach Elder Abuse Protection Team
Goals if elected/Platform
Martha’s commitment to you:
• Create a business-friendly environment by reducing the over-regulation, taxes, and fees to bring back businesses to our communities.
• Prioritize funding so that our tax dollars are used educating our youth, senior citizens’ care and protecting our neighborhoods.
• Ensure when students graduate they have a command of math, science and English.
• Make the ports a vital economic engine that does not add to the pollution that hurts our children.
• Restore California’s business climate and fiscal responsibility so our economy can prosper once again.
• Bring back “living wage jobs” for our families.
-Ensure that Proposition 13 is NEVER eliminated.
Endorsements
Eunice Sato, Former Long Beach mayor
Dee Andrews, City Councilmember
iCaucus
Hispanics 100
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Campaign website marthafloresgibson.com
Bonnie Lowenthal
Party affiliation Democrat
Age (not specified)
Years residing in district 43
Previous offices held
LBUSD Board of Education (two terms)
Long Beach City Council (two terms, including vice mayor)
Metropolitan Transportation Authority and California State Legislature (two terms)
Occupation Educator/Assemblymember
Education
MS Psychology, CSULB
BS Sociology University of Wisconsin
Family Two children, three grandchildren
Nonprofit/professional affiliations
Boards: Children Today, St. Mary’s Medical Center Board of Trustees, US Vets, International City Theater
Goals if elected/Platform
Balancing the budget, bringing more jobs to California, increasing funding for education
Endorsements
Mayor Beverly O’Neill
Hon. Mike Noll
Vice Mayor Robert Garcia
California Professional Firefighters
California Small Business Association
Lee Harrison Chauser
Party affiliation Peace and Freedom Party
Age 67
Years residing in district 67 years
Previous offices held
Inspector Los Angeles County Elections, Peace and Freedom Central Committee Member
Occupation
Teacher/Educator
Education
BA in philosophy/English, CSULB, CSUDH; California teacher’s credential
Family
Chauser/Woodard
Nonprofit/professional affiliations United Teachers of Los Angeles, American Federation of Teachers
Goals if elected/platform
Support health, education and welfare measures. Provide more government jobs.
Endorsements
Peace and Freedom Central Committee
Campaign website
Peace and Freedom website
Ricardo Lara
Party affiliation Democrat
Age 37
Years residing in district 5
Previous offices held State Assembly
Occupation Lawmaker
Education
BA in journalism, BA in Spanish, Minor in Chicano Studies from San Diego State University
Family Single
Nonprofit/professional affiliations Currently serve on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project and also a member of: the Downey Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis International; the Bellflower Noon Lions Club; Optimist International; and the Rotary Club of South Gate. Additionally, serves on the College Board’s Hispanic Advisory Committee for Latino College Completion as well as the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s Legislative Advisory Board.
Goals if elected/Platform
I embark on this race because I am confident that I have what it takes to serve the people of the 33rd Senate District. My tenure in the Assembly reflects my lifelong commitment to working families, specifically my commitment to ensuring that government works for the people and protects the most vulnerable Californians, as it was always intended. Specifically, during my tenure in the Assembly, I have worked to improve access to higher education for all children, create jobs for the middle class, protect taxpayers from arbitrary and illegal property taxes, protect small businesses from frivolous lawsuits by vexatious litigants, guarantee workers’ rights to protected pregnancy and medical leave, create more transparency in local government and ethical oversight of public funds. In the Senate, I will continue to improve the quality of life for the residents in my district and remain steadfast in the fight to create jobs, protect and help advance working families in our state.
Endorsements
California Democratic Party
California Labor Federation
California State Senator Alan Lowenthal
Signal Hill City Councilmember Larry Forester
California Small Business Association
Campaign website
Ricardolara.com
