By Neena Strichart
Dear Long Beacheans (is that a word?),
Next Tuesday is a very important day for Long Beach’s voting residents. Not only are you being asked to vote for mayor, prosecutor and city attorney, those of you in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 also need to decide who you want to represent you as your councilperson.
I had the opportunity to attend many of the forums (debate-type events) over the past few weeks. At two of them I had the honor of joining the Long Beach Press club folks in tossing questions to candidates.
I love forums. I believe they are the best way to really get to know candidates because voters have the chance to watch them under fire. I like to see how the politicians answer the questions asked, how they relate to their opponents and if they stick to reporting on their own strengths or instead concentrate on putting down their opponents.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again now! my Jefferson Junior High 9th grade government teacher Mr. Smith told our class back in the late ’60s to beware of candidates who do nothing but berate their opponents. He claimed that those who told about their own strengths rather than concentrate on the other guys’ weaknesses were the better candidates. He claimed bashing the other aspirant was an act of desperation.
Wow! How profound— and, more importantly, I still remember those words. (See, Mom, I was paying attention.)
Now, I’ve attended dozens of forums in my life. I even moderated one during the last Long Beach Mayoral race. Nevertheless, I believe this election cycle has produced an unusually enthusiastic lot of candidates. I’ve rarely seen such a passionate lot.
No matter how you vote, straight party, ballot, write-in, absentee, whatever— the only thing that matters is that you vote next Tuesday, April 13.
Those who prefer absentee ballots need to keep in mind that vote-by-mail ballots are due to city hall or to any polling place by the close of polls on Election Day. POSTMARKS DO NOT COUNT!! Voters who will not be in the area on Tuesday should get their ballots in the mail to ensure they arrive in time to be counted. Ballots received after 8pm on Tuesday will not be opened. One vote can make a difference— just ask Signal Hill Vice Mayor Larry Forester, or as some call him, “Landslide Larry.” He won his re-election a while back by ONE VOTE, which proves every vote does count.
Please do your duty and vote your conscience. Your city needs to hear your opinion loud and clear, and the only way to be heard is to vote.
