The Long Beach Press Club has announced its schedule for seven open-to-the-public debates among candidates running for election to seven City of Long Beach offices: the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th City Council Districts, along with city attorney and city prosecutor.
A debate between Mayor Bob Foster and challenger Stevie Merino is still pending. In the absence of a debate, Merino will be provided with a press conference. City Auditor Laura Doud is running unopposed.
The debates, one a week beginning Monday, Feb. 22 and concluding in early April, will be conducted in various establishments throughout the city. Debates among council candidates have been located within each district’s boundaries. Election day is April 13.
The debates will be conducted in a style resembling a press conference. A panel of four journalists from local media outlets and a moderator (there will be a different panel for each debate) will present questions to the candidates. Candidates will have two minutes to respond to each question, but panelists will be permitted to interject/ask follow-up questions if the candidates stray from the theme of the questions.
Members of the public who feel an important issue is not being addressed may submit questions in writing to the moderator.
By locating the debates in local hotspots— where attendees can eat, drink and socialize— the Long Beach Press Club hopes to make it easier and more enjoyable for people to prepare themselves for casting their valuable votes on Election Day.
All debates begin at 7pm and will last no longer than 90 minutes.
Monday, Feb. 22— 7th District
Puka Bar, 710 W. Willow St.
Doors open at 6pm
Bar service available
Wednesday, March 3— 9th District
El Ranchito, 5345 Long Beach Blvd.
Doors open at 6pm, debate starts at 7pm
Full dinner menu and bar service available
Monday, March 8— City Attorney
The Gaslamp, 6251 E. PCH
Doors open at 5pm
Full dinner menu and bar service available
Monday, March 15— City Prosecutor
Rooftop at Smooths, 144 Pine Ave.
Doors open at 5pm
Full bar service available rooftop
Monday, March 22— 3rd District
The Gaslamp, 6251 E. PCH
Doors open at 5pm
Full dinner menu and bar service available
Monday, March 29— 5th District
El Dorado Restaurant, 3014 Studebaker Dr.
Doors open at 5pm
Full dinner menu and bar service available
Wednesday, April 7— 1st District
Rooftop at Smooths, 144 Pine Ave.
Doors open at 5pm
Full bar service available rooftop
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All three Third District City Council seat candidates— Gary DeLong, Terry Jensen and Thomas Marchese— will participate in a candidates’ forum on March 18 at Rogers Middle School, 365 Monrovia Ave., from 6:30 to 8pm. The forum will be moderated by the Long Beach Area League of Women (LWV), and is sponsored by the League, the Belmont Shore Residents Association (BSRA), and the Belmont Heights Community Association (BHCA). Candidates will make opening statements, answer written questions from the audience, and make brief closing statements. For more information, call Aileen Colon (BSRA) at (562) 433-0085, Phyllis O’Connor (LWV) at (562) 438-5478, or Dianne Sundstrom (BHCA) at (562) 221-5518.
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The Committee to Write-in Val Lerch invites residents to the grand opening of their campaign headquarters, 3559 E. South Street #B, Long Beach, on Sat., Feb. 20, 2010 at 10am. Visit www.writeinvallerch.com or call (562) 884-2759 for more information.
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The Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club has announced its endorsement of eight Long Beach candidates in the upcoming primary elections.
The club has voted to endorse incumbent Councilmembers Robert Garcia, Gerrie Schipske and Tonia Reyes-Uranga, as well as Democrats Thomas Marchese and Brad Shore in the 3rd and 9th Council District races, respectively.
“Lambda has a new energy and momentum that I am excited to be a part of,” said newly-elected President Cory Allen. “We hit the ground running with our endorsements and will now focus on getting those candidates elected.”
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Long Beach City Prosecutor candidate Doug Haubert has earned the endorsement of the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters (LALCV), a pro-environment group dedicated to electing municipal leadership in Los Angeles County to help preserve, protect and enhance the environment.
“As a proven civil and criminal prosecutor with a clear vision for improving quality of life, neighborhood safety and environmental stewardship in Long Beach, Doug Haubert is highly qualified to be a strong and effective City Prosecutor,” said LALCV President Anthony Rendon. “He is dedicated to the kind of serious, committed law enforcement that is vital to environmental protection and the health, safety and quality of life of Long Beach residents.”
This is the first time LALCV has endorsed a candidate for Long Beach City Prosecutor.
Haubert has previously served as Long Beach Deputy City Prosecutor and as a city prosecutor for other cities in Southern California. Additionally, he has worked as legal counsel to a wetlands conservancy and a non-profit organization that operates clean, alternative-fueled buses. More information on Haubert’s campaign is available at www.DougForCityProsecutor.com.
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Long Beach City Attorney Robert Shannon, who is seeking re-election, has earned the support of Fourth District Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.
“I am honored to earn the endorsement of Supervisor Don Knabe,” said
Shannon. “Supervisor Knabe and I share the same goals of keeping Long Beach safe and improving the quality of life for all residents. I am grateful for his support.”
Shannon has served as Long Beach City Attorney for 12 years and has already garnered the support of Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley, Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen A. Trutanich, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, the Long Beach Police Officers Association, and Long Beach City Auditor Laura Doud.
