by Neena Strichart
Unless you are living in a cocoon or are off on a cruise ship, you are aware of Tuesday night’s City of Long Beach election results. For details of who won and who didn’t and who’s to be involved in a run-off in June, take a look at the front page of this issue.
Today I have decided to spend a little time in this column to promote election comments from my Facebook “friends.” Most of the posts are worthy of a letter to the editor, but these days many folks would rather just do a quick Facebook entry. To take advantage of that trend, I contacted several of those who posted opinions on their accounts to get permission to reprint their words. Yippee! Everyone agreed to let me share with our readers. Maybe seeing their words and names in print will encourage them to write to me instead of just posting to a social-media site!
I am reading 14.2 percent of registered voters turned out in Long Beach to vote— with an option to vote by mail or in person and not to even try. Where do we inspire responsibility as a citizen of this city to vote and be a part of solutions to build quality for our future? Definite detachment going on. Wow. To believe our city has such a lack of civic engagement is a sad day for Long Beach. Let’s do better.
—Carina Cristiano, Long Beach
—Laurie Angel
I hate to appear immodest, but I’m so excited I can’t contain this. Governor Jerry Brown actually called ME and told me how to vote. The governor must be preoccupied, because, although I tried to engage him in conversation, he just stuck to his script. He was like a recording. I guess he had a lot more calls to make.
—Alan Tolkoff, Long Beach
14.2-percent voter turnout, more than half was by mail. We will get the government we deserve— unfortunately. Fewer than 41,000 voted, yet so much was spent campaigning for their votes. I bet the aggregate dollar/vote cost is around $500.
—Alan Tolkoff, Long Beach (2nd entry)
Yesterday’s LB election was historic as predicted. However, the voter turnout was less than stellar. Congratulations to the outright winners of their election: City Prosecutor Doug Haubert, City Auditor Laura Doud, Councilmember-Elect Rex Richardson 9th District, Councilmember-Elect Roberto Uranga 7th District, Councilmember-Elect Suzie Price 3rd District, LBCC Trustee Jeff Kellogg Area 1, LBCC Trustee Elect Virginia Baxter Area 5, LBCC Trustee Elect Sunny Zia Area 3, LBUSD Boardmember-Elect Meagan Megan Kerr 1st District, LBUSD Boardmember John McGinnis District 3. I look forward to working with each of you. Congratulations also to those in making the runoff/next round. Keep working and advocating on behalf of those you are seeking to represent. Two more months to go!
—Ed Wilson, Mayor of Signal Hill
Apparently Long Beach is for sale!!!! Shame on all those voters who are registered and did not vote. The turnout gets worse every year and YOU are paying for it!!
—Annie Greenfeld
You know, it is very sad that a city the size of Long Beach, population just under a half a million people, had such a lousy voter turnout! There are approximately. 260,000 registered voters in this town, and I have heard that only 14 percent of those actually voted. That is only 36,400 voters. With the option of mailing in your vote, you didn’t even have to make a trip to your voting location to share your opinion of who or what you would like to happen in this election. Just fill out your ballot, and mail it in. How simple can it be? Choices are great to have, but if you don’t even make the effort to choose then you have no place to complain. I was happy and proud of the results, especially for Megan Kerr and Robert Garcia. Megan for winning the school board race and Robert for being in the run-off election in June. Long Beach is a great city and has lots to offer and needs the involvement of its citizens to make it an even better place to live, work and play. Now, I’m giving you another chance. Please take the opportunity and use your voice and vote on June 3.
—Ward Shaw, Long Beach
