UPDATED: With Clarifying Dispatch re Facebook Dispatch Indicating Justin Rudd Was Talking With Friends About A (Second) Run For Third District City Council

(Dec. 31, 2011, 8:45 a.m. UPDATE): Email received from Mr. Millero, whose Facebook dispatch is cited in the story below:

Just to clarify my post last night regarding Justin Rudd and a potential run for 3rd District City Council.

Justin and I were out with friends last night talking all things Long Beach. Our love for the city, and how we all see this as our home was the topic. Politics came up. Our dinner companions and friends suggested that Justin should enter politics. I posted that thought on facebook last night.

Justin continues to say that he feels that he is doing the best he can as a private citizen and will continue to do so, he reinforced that again last night.

My Facebook post was just a question, and a reminder to me of the power Facebook, and positive influence that Justin wields in our great city. He has a great many friends with all his events through The Community Action Team that continue to support all his endeavors.

The reference to Delong, was just a tag on Facebook to signify the council seat in the Third district. The other tags associated with that post were 3 Belmont Shore tags, being the community in the third district.

And it appears that Mr. Millero has taken down his previous Facebook dispatch (which generated over 70 Facebook responses to his Facebook page during a single late night/predawn period on a holiday weekend).

About 10:30 p.m. last night (Dec. 30), Ralph Millero (in a longtime relationship with Mr. Rudd) put the following dispatch on his Facebook page alongside a warm and businesslike photo of Mr. Rudd:

Justin Rudd and I were out tonight with friends talking about Justin running for Gary DeLong's seat in the third district. Would you support that Belmont Shore? I think Justin Rudd! would be good for city council in Long Beach, Calif. -- with Gary DeLong and 4 others.

As of dawn today (Dec. 30), over 70 Facebook respondents had indicated they "liked" the dispatch and 37 had commented, virtually all positively...with some suggesting Mr. Rudd run instead for Mayor.

The Third district Council seat isn't up for a regularly scheduled election until April 2014...BUT if 3rd district Councilman Gary DeLong (reelected to a second term in April 2010) were to win June/November 2012 elections for a newly drawn SE LB-West OC Congressional seat [prevailing against other candidates including former Congressman Steve Kuykendall, Los Alamitos Councilman Troy Edgar and LB-area state Senator Alan Lowenthal], a DeLong win would create a vacant 3rd district Council seat. That would trigger a "winner-take-all" special election to succeed DeLong (with no runoff) in which a winner could prevail with less than 50% of the vote.

In April 2010, Tom Marchese and Terry Jensen entered the race against then-incumbent Councilman DeLong.

Mr. Rudd, who led a successful campaign to create a dog zone beach in Long Beach, oversees multiple internet-driven projects and events under the umbrella of his 501(c)(3) Community Action Team including an Easter dog event, a July 4th people/bike parade, a Thanksiving beach run, a spelling bee as well as long-time monthly volunteer beach clean-ups.

Almost exactly six years ago -- on January 2, 2006 -- Mr. Rudd told LBReport.com (after first telling then-L.A. Times reporter Nancy Wride, now BelmontShore.Patch.com editor) that he was leaning toward a making a Third District Council run but hadn't made a final decision. "I've met with [potential] campaign consultants and I'll be announcing my decision shortly," he said on January 2, 2006.

Part of the impetus at that time was a City Council action that reversed long-standing LB policy (which for years had banned dog breeding) and instead permitted dog breeding on limited terms with payment of a license fee. Animal advocates, including Mr. Rudd, bristled at the reversal of city policy while adoptable dogs continued being euthanized at LB's City Hall run animal control facility but didn't press the issue in political terms. [LBReport.com later learned through a Public Records Act request that the Council action accompanied actions by the then-O'Neill-administration to appease the American Kennel Club, which at that time held a nationally televised annual dog show in Long Beach. The AKC event has since gone elsewhere.]

In January 2006, Mr. Rudd filed City Clerk required candidate paperwork to put his name on the April 2006 ballot (to succeed then-two-term Councilman/Mayoral candidate Frank Colonna). "Like any other proud Long Beach resident, I want the best for our city. That's why I've dedicated my life to keeping the community as vibrant and beautiful as the day I moved to Belmont Shore 10 years ago," Mr. Rudd said in an early January 2006 mass emailing.

But just days after filing the paperwork to enter the race, Mr. Rudd made an emotional announcement at what was scheduled to be his campaign kick-off fundraiser, stating that he was withdrawing as a candidate for the 3d district City Council seat. After addressing a crowd that had gathered at a Belmont Shore restaurant, Mr. Rudd sent the following email to supporters and friends:

It is after tremendous reflection that I am withdrawing my bid as candidate for City Council. I am moved and grateful for the many people who have shown me their support, however, I believe that I can better serve the community in my present position as head of the nonprofit Community Action Team.

I want to thank all those who have supported me with their time and resources in helping me launch my candidacy. I stand firm in my resolve to continue serving the community and pledge to improve the quality of life for my fellow residents.

Again, I thank you for your loyalty and hope that you will continue offering your support.

Sincerely, Justin!

Mr. Rudd had been scheduled to attend a Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association candidates' forum later that evening...and after then-Council candidates Gary DeLong, Stephanie Loftin, Norm Ryan and Charlie Legeman spoke, the host relayed news that Mr. Rudd had withdrawn from the race, producing gasps and audible surprise in the room.

Then-Council candidate Gary DeLong said at that time: "Justin is an asset to the 3rd District community. I wish him well in his current and future endeavors and look forward to partnering with him in the future."

Developing.