(April 14, 2009) -- LBReport.com provides below the verbatim text of a release and accompanying biography provided by James Johnson, announcing formation of a political campaign committee to become LB's next 7th district Councilman with a vote on issues affecting taxpayers and neighborhoods citywide.

LBReport.com also includes below matters we consider newsworthy and comment-worthy. As with all LBReport.com items, we welcome your comments.

Mr. Johnson first appeared in LB City Hall shortly after the June 2006 election of Bob Foster as Mayor. Foster put Mr. Johnson to work on a proposed Charter Amendment that would increase the Mayor's power, giving the Mayor a veto that would to require six Council votes to override. Proposed changes also gave the Mayor and Council the power to remove members of City Commissions for any reason. LB voters approved these changes in May 2007.

In the same election, Foster and a number of LB Dems supported Al Austin to succeed newly elected Assemblywoman Laura Richardson in the 6th Council dist. seat. Mayor Foster called Austin's election "essential" but 6th dist. voters narrowly chose Dee Andrews.

With work on the Mayor-strengthening Charter amendment ended, Mr. Austin's election could have provided an easy transition for Mr. Johnson into the Council office of a Mayoral ally...but since Austin wasn't elected, a new position was effectively created for Mr. Johnson.

Despite tight budgets, a supposed policy position -- one that to our knowledge didn't exist previously and hasn't existed since -- was created within the City Clerk's office.

On paper, the position was funded by the City Clerk's budget, but in reality Mr. Johnson operated out of an office on the Mayor/City Council floor.

In or about November 2007, a vacancy appeared in the City Auditor's office when Alex Cherin (2006 7th dist. Council candidate and a lawyer) -- whom City Auditor Doud hired as her Assistant City Auditor (a CPA isn't required for an Assistant Auditor) -- exited for a position at the Port of Long Beach.

Ms. Doud then named Mr. Johnson (also a lawyer, not a CPA) as Assistant City Auditor.

In the meantime, Mr. Johnson rose to a position of prominence as President of LB's Democratic Club.

In the summer of 2008, Mayor Foster was backing a City Hall desired property parcel tax measure that he suggested would guarantee specific infrastructure projects (when it didn't) in text given scant public input prior to a Council vote (8-1, Schipske dissenting) putting it on the ballot. Within weeks, Mr. Johnson scheduled an endorsement vote on the measure at the LB Democratic Club.

Mayor Foster was the sole speaker in support. There was no speaker invited in opposition. Mr. Johnson told us that speakers in opposition would be welcome if they wished to be heard. None appeared. Following Mayor Foster's presentation, ballots were distributed...and LB Dem Club members voted to support the measure.

Mr. Johnson then took off for Denver, where he was a delegate at the Dem Nat'l Convention that nominated Sen. Barack Obama as the Party's presidential candidate.

Following the Dem convention, Mr. Johnson organized a "working rally" of area Dems at LB's Recreation Park.

It was attended by multiple prominent Dems, including state Dem Party chair Art Torres and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. In introducing Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D., Carson-LB), Mr. Johnson asked the crowd rhetorically, "Do you think we need a fighter in Washington to fight against Bush's regressive policies? [crowd: yes!] Well that's what we've got with Congresswoman Laura Richardson!"

Below in full are the materials Mr. Johnson emailed to us and other media outlets on April 13, 2009

PRESS RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

James Johnson Opens a Campaign Committee for Long Beach City Council, District 7

James Johnson announced today that he has formed a campaign committee for the 7th District City Council seat. The election for this open seat will be held in April 2010.

"I look forward to listening to the residents of the 7th District and talking with them about how to change Long Beach for the better," Johnson said. "I feel lucky to have lived in such a great community for so long, and I know that by working together we can improve the City for current residents and future generations."

Biography of James Johnson

James Johnson’s passion for his hometown of Long Beach started at an early age. With a supportive family and community behind him, he was taught that he could achieve his dreams. James saw that this was possible because of investments that the community had made: a clean and safe neighborhood to grow up in, local parks in which to play soccer and stay fit, and a world-class education provided by Poly High School. James resolved to come back and serve the community which had given him so much, and he moved back to Long Beach soon after finishing his studies.

James currently serves as the Assistant City Auditor for the City of Long Beach. His focus at the City Auditor’s Office has been to make our City as efficient and effective as possible in the services it provides to the community. He is proud of the successes that the Office has had in protecting City assets, suggesting ways to save taxpayer dollars, and fighting fraud.

One way James gives back to his community is by actively serving on several boards, including the Fairfield YMCA, For the Child (an anti-child abuse organization), and the Long Beach Bar Association. He has served for several years on the scholarship committee of the Long Beach Bar Association, the same group that helped him go to college many years ago.

Prior to working for the City Auditor, James was hired by the City Clerk Department to advise the City on reforming its charter, analogous to its constitution. Working with the City Council and the community, he helped bring about the first structural charter reform in over twenty years. While at the Department, he also worked on several cost-saving initiatives, such as revising outdated municipal elections requirements to reduce excessive printing charges.

Previously, James practiced law at an international law firm in Los Angeles, where he focused on complex and commercial litigation. He also maintained a significant pro bono practice and helped obtain a settlement in a major international slavery and trafficking case. Before attending law school, James served on the campaign for then-Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal and in the policy division of the California Governor's Office.

James has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and a law degree from U.C. Berkeley School of Law. He is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach and an Eagle Scout from Long Beach Troop 120. James is a proud homeowner with his wife Nicole Altamirano, who teaches Spanish at Claremont McKenna College and California State University, Long Beach.