LBReport.com

Follow the Money

Read Names/Affiliations Of Developers + Lobbyists + Labor Unions + Business Interests + Current/Former Politicians Who Gave CD9 Councilman/Vice Mayor Richardson $168k For Third Term Re-Election; After Spending He's Got $126k Warchest

Will Early Mass Money Strategy Scare Off Challenges (Incl. Reform Candidates)?



If LBREPORT.com didn't tell you,
who would?
No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
(July 31, 2021, 7:12 p.m.) -- A July 30 release by CD 9 Councilman/Vice Mayor Rex Richardson boasted of collecting nearly $170,000 in contributions seeking a third term in office...but it didn't mention their names and affiliations. As part of LBREPORT.com's "Follow the Money" coverage, we show our readers the names and affiliations of the developers, lobbyists, labor unions, business interests, current and former politicians and candidates -- who contributed sums to support his re-election.

To view the full list of contributors with their affiliations click here.

Richardson's reelection contributions from Jan 1-June 30 2021 totaled $167,972 with spending of $41,780 plus $10,131 in accrued (not yet paid) expenses. The net result leaves Richardson's 2022 re-election campaign with $126,192 as of June 30..

An early massive money strategy is commonly used by incumbents in hopes of scaring off potential challengers.

During his incumbency, Councilman Richardson:

  • Advocated defunding LB police following the May 2020 Minneapolis PD officer murder of George Floyd Richardson didn't set a specific number but joined a unanimous Council in a September 2020 vote (no dissent) to approve a management/Mayor recommended FY22 budget that erased 48 officers on top of roughly 180 officers erased by Councils from 2009-2014.

  • Since Jan. 1, 2021, Richardson's CD 9 has been in the top half of LB Council districts in terms of shootings (homicides + woundings + casings found). .

  • Richardson brought forward and advocated multiple policies and spending items he called Racial Equity and Reconciliation. The City Council has approved them by voted action.

  • Richardson advocated a $1 million reduction in the developer-agreed purchase price for the Artesia Blvd./Atlantic Ave. property (now home to the "Uptown Commons") The Council agreed to the price reduction by voted action, Richarson's campaign contributors include Tom Carpenter, a VP in Frontier Investments, the firm that sought and obtained $1 million price reduction.

  • Richardson obtained budgeted funding to remodel/upgrade the Houghton Park community center,

    Richardson pressed for and obtained budgeted funding to resure Rescue 12

  • Richardson has called the net result of his policies a North Long Beach renaissance.









  • Richardson's contributors include (descriptions by LBREPORT.com) Mayor Robert Garcia (using his 2022 Lt. Gov. account); Council incumbents Cindy Allen (CD2); Council-censured now-former CD 2 Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce (declined to seek second term); Council incumbents Mary Zendejas (CD1) and Roberto Uranga (CD 7); former Mayor Bob Foster, Alan Lowenthal for Congress, Amusement Industry Inc. [dba Westland Real Estate Group], grassroots NLB advocate Laurie Angel (CD 8), Black Business Development PAC, Building Industry Ass'n of So Cal PAC, Firefighter Wayne Chaney, lobbying consultant Alex Cherin; Maricella de Rivera, Rich Dines (2018 CD 5 Council candidate), Michele Dobson, Esq. (CD 5 Council candidate), Doug Otto (LBUSD board member), gov't affairs advocates (lobbyists) [independently] Mike Murchison, John Edmond, John Ek, and Matt Knabe; incumbent Mike Gipson for Assembly 2022; Grand Prix Ass'n of Long Beach; Alyssa Gutierrez (First 5 LA); Samuel "Skip" Keesal, Esq.; Carl Kemp (2018 CD5 Council candidate, led recent advocacy for LB "Juneteenth" event; currently LA County Public Affairs Mgr.); LB Green Room; Lockyer for Controller 2022; LB Firefighters Ass'n PAC; LA/OC Building and Trades Industry PAC; Pacific Merchant Shipping Ass'n; Assemblyman Rendon for Assembly 2022; Republic Services; LA Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas; Clay Sandidge [advocate for downtown LB aerial tram]; John Sangmeister (Gladstones); Mark Taylor (Boeing); Tunua Thrash-Ntuk (2020 CD candidate); Nadia Tushnet; Brian Ulaszewski (City Fabrik); Westland Industries; Sunny Zia (LBCC Trustee).

    Sponsor

    Richardson used part of contributions to his re-election campaign to aid the following politicians: Isaac Bryan For Assembly 2021 ($1,500), CD 2 Councilwoman Cindy Allen (Officeholder Acct $500); Assemblyman Mike Gipson ($500); Heather Hutt for Assembly 2021 ($1,500); Councilwoman Mary Zendejas for Council 2022 ($400); incumbent LBUSD Boardmember Megan Kerr 2022 ($1,000);

    Sponsor



    Aug. 4, 2021, 11:35 a.m. Amended text to indicate Maricella de Rivera wasn't a CD 1 Council candidate.

    Sponsor

    Sponsor


    Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.


    blog comments powered by Disqus

    Recommend LBREPORT.com to your Facebook friends:


    Follow LBReport.com with:

    Twitter

    Facebook

    RSS

    Return To Front Page

    Contact us: mail@LBReport.com



    Adoptable pet of the week:




    Copyright © 2021 LBReport.com, LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use/Legal policy, click here. Privacy Policy, click here