LB Firefighters Union PAC Declines To Release Its Recording Of Questions Asked, Answers Received, From Its Endorsee Herlinda Chico (Parallels Previous Refusal of LBPOA PAC)

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(Feb. 26, 2015) -- The Long Beach Firefighters Association Political Action Committee (PAC) has declined to release to make available to LBREPORT.com [so we can make available to you] a copy of its recording of its endorsement interview with its 4th Council district endorsee Herlinda Chico. The recording would show what questions it asked (what issues it considers important) and the responses it received from its endorsee.

The Long Beach Firefighters Association PAC action parallels previous refusal(s) by the Long Beach Police Officers Association PAC to disclose recording(s) of its endorsee interviews (in the upcoming 4th district race as well as several previous election cycles.)

[Scroll down for further]

Ms. Chico has been endorsed by several LB City Council incumbents (Gonzalez, Price, Uranga and Richardson), a number of LB Dem party political figures and the area's union establishment.

Mr. Supernaw has the endorsement of the LB Area Chamber of Commerce and retired 4th district Councilman Tom Clark. Mr. Supernaw finished first in the April 2012 Council election (with incumbent O'Donnell a term-limited write-in) but was outpolled by O'Donnell in a June 2012 runoff (with O'Donnell on the ballot and aided by the support of organized labor.)

Mr. Supernaw interviewed with the LB Firefighters Association PAC seeking its endorsement in the upcoming April 2015 Council race. He is the son of a Long Beach Firefighter.

In previous elections, a number of Council candidates endorsed by the LB Firefighters Association PAC voted for budgets that reduced LBFD funding and have left Long Beach with three fire stations without fire engines (the only apparatus capable of spraying water to extinguish a fire.) Council majorities also voted to implement a paramedic staffing system that saves budget sums but was opposed by the LB Firefighters Ass'n and leaves Long Beach as the only L.A. or Orange County community that doesn't provide two paramedics arriving on the same vehicle. In Long Beach, two paramedics arrive on two separate vehicles, including one on a fire engine (all of which now carry trained firefighter/paramedics) that sometimes have to travel considerable distances across town to accident scenes.) LBFD management says the pilot paramedic system has produced more rapid delivery of the first fire paramedic on scene. A County emergency services advisory body continues to review LB data on the pilot paramedic program.

LBREPORT.com has routinely requested the opportunity to hear what the Long Beach Police Officers Ass'n PAC's endorsees said in their interviews since the 2009 special election cycle. In 2009, then-Council candidate Robert Garcia told us he had no objection to releasing the recording, but our request to the LBPOA was declined. "I will never release the recording," Lt. James told us at that time...and he has remained true to his word in subsequent election cycles. Similar requests by us in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 LB elections have also been declined.

In previous election cycles [and we know of no change], the LBPOA PAC's endorsement decision has been made by a vote of the LBPOA Political Action Committee which is comprised primarily of the LBPOA's Board of Directors but is also open to rank and file officer(s) who may choose to participate.

In April 2009, LBPOA PAC endorsee Garcia was elected to the City Council in a no-runoff special election, took office in May 2009 and proceeded to vote with Council majorities for the largest reductions in LBPD sworn officer staffing within a five year period in the more than 100+ year history of the City of Long Beach.

In the 2014 election cycle, the LBPOA PAC endorsed Council candidates Gonzalez, Price, Uranga and Richardson, who went on to vote for a FY15 city budget recommended by now-Mayor Garcia (whom the LBPOA PAC endorsed over challenger Damon Dunn) that conclusively eliminated LBPD's field anti-gang unit and didn't restore roughly 200 officers erased by Council budgets since 2010.

In the April 2015 4th district special election, Mr. Supernaw and Ms. Chico will face each other (along with a self-described darkhorse Richard Lindemann.) The winner will have a co-equal Council vote on matters affecting residents and businesses citywide...including police, fire, park, libary and infrastructure budget priorities, proposed developments and neighborhood impacting policies.

To hear the candidates at a Feb. 24 candidate forum organized by the East Anaheim St. Business Association, click here.

Top see video of the candidates fielding Q & A by LBREPORT.com at a candidate meet-greet-and-eat (organized by NLB community advocate Dan Pressburg on Feb. 21), click here..

Vote by mail ballots begin flying in March for an April 14 election day.

On Feb. 25, the LB Firefighters Ass'n PAC announced that it has endorsed Herlinda Chico in the 4th dist. Council race. The LB Police Officers Ass'n PAC endorsed Ms. Chico on Jan. 27.

For several years, LBREPORT.com has routinely requested, and LBPOA's PAC has routinely declined to release, its recordings of what its endorsees said in its endorsement interviews. LBREPORT.com urges LBFFA's PAC to release its recording of what it asked Ms. Chico and what she said in response, during its endorsement interview.