(November 6, 2009) -- Tom Marchese, who has been on a collision course with Councilman Gary DeLong on a number of SE LB issues, has filed paperwork with the CA Secretary of State's office (paralleling City Hall materials) enabling him to raise money for a 2010 City Council run in LB's 3rd Council district.
Details of the campaign aren't immediately available, but Mr. Marchese (current VP of the University Park Estates Homeowners Association and a boardmember on the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust) was a visible opponent of the Studebaker/Loynes ("Home Depot") commercial development (stopped in court) and the SE LB land exchange (privately owned open space/presumed wetlands in exchange for the city's Public Service Yard).
Webcast screen save: City of LB website
Mr. Marchese, who holds a Juris Doctor degree, used the Public Records Act to uncover materials (including City Hall email communications) on the SE LB transaction (which were published by TheDistrictWeekly.com) that amplified criticism of the transaction.
He's has also urged restoration and financial sanctions against the owner of the Loynes-South parcel for using bulldozers to clear the property of vegetation without required permits (the owner says in response to a weed abatement/fire hazard notice).
In early October 2009, Mr. Marchese was visible (foreground in photo below) at a joint community meeting/environmental "scoping" meeting on the proposed PCH/2nd St. development (SeaPort Marina Hotel site) and a few weeks later attended a public meeting on the project at which he criticized certain of its aspects.
Mr. Marchese in foreground, wearing purple shirt
Also present at the October 2009 2nd/PCH scoping meeting was Terry Jensen, an outspoken opponent of City Hall's 2008 Measure I parcel property tax ballot measure who also testified at the City Council in opposition to the SE LB land exchange, calling it a very bad deal for taxpayers as proposed.
In early October, Mr. Jensen also filed Third Council district candidate paperwork with the City Clerk's office, saying he planned to assess the viability of his mounting a Third district candidacy. "I have received numerous requests from 3rd district residents urging me to run and also residents in other districts of the City because they're dissatisfied with the direction of their district and the direction in which the entire City is going," Mr. Jensen said.
On November 3, 2009, candidate Marchese spoke during the City Council period for public comments on non-agendized items regarding the fatal shooting of Melody Ross, 16, outside Wilson High School...and urged a stronger level of Council-budgeted police.
On November 4, Mr. Marchese testified at a CA Coastal Commission meeting in Long Beach on an order (agreed to by a landowner) to restore Huntington Beach wetlands (which had been cleared of vegetation without permission)...and to pay a six figure sum.
"Tom Marchese for City Council" has been on the Secretary of State's website for some time; Gazettes.com reported in mid-October that Mr. Marchese had "pulled papers" in the race.
Reached for comment on Mr. Jensen's announcement in October [before news of the Marchese candidacy], 3rd dist. Councilman Gary DeLong said:
"I look forward to a public discussion of the issues. I'm glad to have an opponent - it is my perspective that an elected official shouldn't receive a free ride for re-election. It is important for the community to have a choice."
