United States Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) (left) was re-elected to his Congressional seat Tuesday. Lowenthal is pictured with Long Beach City College Trustee Doug Otto on election night.
-Staff Writer-
In the Nov. 4 statewide general election, some Long Beach city officials moved on to higher political offices and will now leave behind vacancies in coming months.
On the state level, Patrick O’Donnell, a Long Beach high school teacher and 4th District Long Beach city councilmember, defeated opponent John Goya, a political newcomer and medical-related business executive, to replace termed-out Bonnie Lowenthal for the 70th District State Assembly seat.
O’Donnell, a Democrat, won with 63 percent of the vote over Goya, a Republican, who received 37 percent. A replacement to fill the remainder of O’Donnell’s third Council term, which he won as a write-in candidate two years ago, will be decided in a special election next year.
In an emailed statement provided to the Signal Tribune on Wednesday, O’Donnell said he is “honored” to serve the State Assembly to represent the 70th District.
“I couldn’t have done this without the love and support of my family and the hundreds of volunteers and supporters who began taking our message to the streets in March,” O’Donnell said. “I look forward to fulfilling what I campaigned for—Â being a voice for the 70th Assembly District, fighting for our classrooms and continuing to move California and our economy forward.”
In a phone interview, Goya said he would like to thank the 20,600 registered voters who supported him in the election, adding that he was “humbled and honored” to be a candidate in the race for the State Assembly seat.
“I think it was a great election campaign,” he said. “I wish everyone in California who won great luck for the next two years.”
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell handily won the race for Los Angeles County sheriff, taking 74.8 percent of the vote over Paul Tanaka, the County’s undersheriff and the mayor of Gardena, who received about 25 percent.
Anticipating that McDonnell would win, Long Beach City Manager Pat West announced just days prior to the election that he plans to conduct an “expedited recruitment process of internal candidates,” with an announcement of a new police chief soon to “ensure a smooth transition.” All Long Beach deputy chiefs and commanders will be eligible to apply for the position, and all interested candidates will be reviewed and interviewed, West said in a statement. Â
On election night, McDonnell, a Boston native, told a crowd of more than 600 supporters at the JW Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles that he hopes to usher in a “new era” for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, according to a statement provided by his campaign.
“Tonight I stand before you as your newly elected sheriff, and we all stand together at the start of a new journey,” he said. “We are at a defining and historic moment for our sheriff’s department— a moment where we will have the chance to show our resolve to serve with fairness and compassion for all, for the victims of crime, for those in our jails and for the public that expects and deserves the highest standards of constitutional policing. Working together, we can move beyond past problems, rebuild our relationship with our community and usher in a new era for this great department.”
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell greets supporters at JW Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles during the statewide election on Nov. 4 in which he won the race to become the next Los Angeles County sheriff.
In another notable race, John Allen, a lawyer and a Long Beach water commissioner, won the Division 3 seat on the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) with 32.2 percent of the vote, in a crowded candidate pool of hopefuls.
The Division 3 WRD seat represents the cities of Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Lakewood, Long Beach and Signal Hill.
Former Long Beach Councilmember Gerrie Schipske came in second with 21.2 percent while incumbent Lynn Dymally came in third with 17.8 percent and former Long Beach councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga came in fourth with 12.7 percent.
Allen will be vacating his water commission seat in January, leaving a vacancy.
In a phone interview, Allen said he was “humbled” to win by such a large margin, adding that he expected a “close, tough race” since six candidates vied for the spot.
“I was really pleased with friends, volunteers and supporters who helped me win this race,” he said. “I’m a little bit humbled! It appears the electorate agreed with me— somebody who knows about water should be on the board with this drought crisis.”
Allen said some of his priorities when he takes office next year will be to restore the water basin in the region, continue conservation efforts and partner with the Los Angeles County Sanitation District to develop another water-treatment plant to help the region become fully independent of imported water.
“I believe we can do more on saving water,” he said. “I don’t believe the Water Replenishment District has partnered enough with cities and other water agencies.”
Republican John Goya, a political newcomer and medical-related business executive, received 37 percent of the vote and was defeated by Long Beach Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell for the 70th District State Assembly seat. Goya is pictured with constituent Howard Davis.
Allen added that, as a former head deputy district attorney, he plans to help put an end to impressions that the WRD is mismanaging money, referring to Robert Katherman, a WRD board director and longtime lobbyist who, along with his wife, is being charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney for felony corruption involving embezzlement and allegedly misusing public funds.
“There is an underlying perception with the water agency that they’re in the sleight of hand,” Allen said. “That’s something I want to see end right away! That’s not good for a public agency that deals with taxpayer money and public trust. They have to look at us and trust us.”
On the federal level, Democratic incumbent Alan Lowenthal, a former Long Beach Councilmember, senator and Assembly member, was re-elected to serve the 47th District of Congress, defeating Republican Andy Whallon.
“I can’t thank my constituents enough for this vote of confidence,” he told the Signal Tribune on election night. “We have just begun our work.”
Meanwhile, voters approved three statewide ballot measures during the election. Ballot measures that passed include: Proposition 1, a $7.5-billion statewide bond measure proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown to pay for water projects and conservation measures related to the drought; Proposition 2, which would form a stabilization account for the state budget; and Proposition 47, which would create savings for the State by reducing the classification of most “non-serious and nonviolent property and drug crimes” from felonies to misdemeanors.
