Robert Garcia (pictured on election night) consistently dominated Tuesday’s returns and emerged as the frontrunner among the 10 candidates vying to become mayor. Damon Dunn (pictured in his campaign head shot), came in second place for mayor and will face Garcia in a run-off this June. Dunn said his campaign did not schedule an election-night party “because we have not reached our goal.”
Staff Writer
The race for mayor
The election returns available from the city clerk’s office are still unofficial, but so far, Long Beach mayoral candidates Robert Garcia and Damon Dunn have emerged as the candidates who are expected to face off against each other in a primary election that is scheduled for June 3. They each took a moment to reflect on their priorities for the city if they do become the next mayor.
At an election-night party held on Tuesday at Hotel Maya, Garcia in an interview with the Signal Tribune emphasized a message of keeping the city finances healthy. He underscored how the fiscal policies now in place are still good ones. Currently serving as the city’s vice mayor, Garcia also said that he wants to look at “efficiencies” in government and ensure that there is no overspending.
“But then, beyond that,” Garcia added, “we’re going to look at where we’re going to make investments in the future, and we’ve got to make sure that our police departments [are] getting the resources we need, that others are getting the resources that they need and then have an optimistic, forward-thinking vision of the city. I think that’s the most important thing.”
Garcia credited his success at the polls to his own record of service to Long Beach as well as his campaign’s focus on a positive message.
In a telephone interview Wednesday, Dunn talked about his priority of creating jobs in the city. He highlighted his business experience and relationship to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. He explained that the Chamber had created an economic-development plan and talked to representatives of industry sectors to determine what businesses need to grow.
“We have to become business-friendly,” Dunn said, also emphasizing the need for government efficiency and adding that the city should “start collecting data for people that have [interactions] with our city!from inspections to business permits to business [licenses] to development permits.” He said that the City should look at its processes and areas where there might be poor customer service to see where changes should be made in procedures and fees.
Dunn expressed his gratitude to the voters as he promised to continue to work hard.
Throughout Tuesday evening, Garcia dominated the field of 10 candidates vying to become the city’s next mayor. According to early Wednesday morning’s tallies, Garcia received 9,670 votes, or 25.39 percent, of the ballots that were counted so far. Dunn received 8,478 votes, or 22.26 percent. Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal trailed the two leading candidates. She received 7,453 votes, or 19.57 percent. Fifth District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske received 5,889 votes, or 15.46 percent. Doug Otto received 5,186 votes, or 13.62 percent. Jana Shields received 840 votes, or 2.21 percent. Steven Paul Mozena received 182 votes, or .48 percent. Mineo Gonzalez received 150 votes, or .39 percent. Eric Rock received 149 votes, or .39 percent. Richard Anthony Camp received 90 votes, or .24 percent.
From left: Jamie McGlaughlin, mayoral candidate Bonnie Lowenthal, Letty Chairez and Victoria Chung on election night at Sababa Restaurant & Lounge
Measure A
The measure in support of the sales tax on medical marijuana enjoyed a major turnout of voters. So far, according to the unofficial city-clerk results, 26,017 voters or 74.03 percent favored the measure while 9,129 voters or 25.97 percent voted against it.
Adam Hijazi, a representative of the Long Beach Collective Association, said in a telephone interview Wednesday that he was not surprised by the overwhelming turnout that favored the tax.
“We really wanted to make sure that it was going to pass overwhelmingly so that way, we could send a message to the City Hall and the city attorney’s office,” Hijazi said, describing how the association reached out to many individuals who signed a petition last year that asked for regulation of the medical-marijuana dispensaries to be on the ballot in an election. One court determined that the medical-marijuana advocates did not gather enough petition signatures to hold an election. Hijazi said that the association is still challenging that earlier court decision and that the matter will be soon heard by an appeals court in June.
Hijazi said that the tax measure is a good start, but he is also hoping that the City will develop good public policy to regulate dispensaries and help patients.
“We’re definitely working on this with the City,” Hijazi said, adding that he hoped Tuesday night’s message “gets to show a little bit of some of the priorities and the will of the people regarding medical cannabis in the city of Long Beach.”
Uncounted ballots
There is one caveat about the latest election results updated early morning, April 9— there are still ballots that are left to be counted. According to Ed Aramburo of the city clerk’s office on Thursday, more than 9,000 vote-by-mail and provisional ballots still need to be canvassed and counted. Aramburo explained that canvassing involves signature verification and ensuring that the ballots are inspected and checked for duplicates. Once the ballot is verified that it is ready to be scanned, it is then tallied.
He added that the city clerk’s office is expected to offer a revised tally early next week.
Some races may be determined by these outstanding votes.
Other results
Here is a breakdown of the other races in the election, according to the latest tally.
City-attorney candidates Charles Parkin and James Johnson will be facing off in the June run-off election. Parkin won 45.11 percent of the vote, just ahead of Johnson, who won 37.77 percent. Matt Pappas trailed both candidates. He won 17.11 percent.
City Auditor Laura Doud, who ran unopposed, won 100 percent of the votes in her bid for re-election.
Incumbent Doug Haubert, who won 73.85 percent of the vote for city prosecutor, receives a congratulatory phone call at Forbidden City restaurant on election night.
At least two races for city-council seats will likely be determined in the June run-off election. Listed below are the leading candidates.
Lena Gonzalez and Misi Tagaloa have emerged as the frontrunners to compete to represent the 1st district in a June run-off. Gonzalez won 45.5 percent of the vote, and Tagaloa won 30.45 percent.
The councilmember race for the third district may not need to go to a run-off. Suzie Price enjoyed 54.86 percent of the vote, and if she maintains that lead of more than 50 percent plus one vote, she will go on to become the 3rd-district councilmember. Winning only 13.12 percent of the vote, Jack Rosenberg trailed significantly behind Price in second place.
Fifth-district-councilmember candidates Stacy Mungo and Carl Kemp have emerged as the frontrunners and will face off in the June election. Mungo received 37.74 percent of the vote, and Kemp received 31.43 percent.
Roberto Uranga, 7th district Long Beach Council candidate (left), watches election-night results with supporter Gloria Cordero at Lona’s City Limits on Wardlow Road. Uranga was later declared the winner.
Joan Greenwood, 7th district Long Beach Council candidate, is surrounded by well-wishers and her campaign manager Stephanie Wells as they all watch the results of the election at Patricia’s Mexican Restaurant on Atlantic Avenue.
The returns for the Long Beach Community College (LBCC) District’s Governing Board were relatively tighter races, but they may have avoided the need for a June election.
Eighth District Long Beach Councilmember Al Austin (left) and Rex Richardson, 9th-district Long Beach Council candidate, wait for election results at Sal’s Gumbo Shack on Long Beach Boulevard on Tuesday night.
Sunny Zia won 59.76 percent of the vote over Stella Ursua’s 40.24 percent. If she maintains that lead of more than 50 percent plus one vote in the final tally, Zia will represent LBCC’s trustee area three.
Virginia Baxter won 55.7 percent of the vote, defeating Gregory Slaughter, who won 44.3 percent.
If she maintains that lead of more than 50 percent plus one vote in the final tally, Baxter will go on to represent LBCC’s trustee area five.
The race to represent two districts of the board of the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is also close.
Megan Kerr won 51.32 percent of the vote, defeating Uduak-Joe Ntuk, who won 48.68 percent. If she maintains that lead of more than 50 percent plus one vote in the final tally, Kerr will also go on to represent LBUSD’s first district.
Board President John McGinnis won 52.9 percent of the vote, defeating Juan Benitez, who won 47.1 percent. If he maintains that lead of more than 50 percent plus one vote in the final tally, McGinnis will continue to represent LBUSD’s third district.
