(September 15, 2005) -- Ninth district Councilman Val Lerch has announced that he will seek re-election to the LB City Council.

In an emailed release, Councilman Lerch cites "the establishment of the city’s first ever Youth Advisory Council" as the accomplishment of which he is most proud, calling it a "forum for Long Beach’s youth that is just beginning to assert its voice on what young people think are the most important issues in the City."

The release says Councilman Lerch also "fought successfully to redirect the 710 freeway expansion plan that would have wiped out 350 homes, 23 businesses, and 1 park in the Ninth District."

Councilman Lerch says in the release, "For the last 4 years I have fought hard to protect neighborhoods throughout the city, trying not to compromise or give any one side an unfair position. I will continue to do so during my next four years."

The release adds that with the fight for takeover of the Redevelopment Agency now ended, the Councilman "looks forward to seeing the planning and developments that will benefit North Long Beach in the coming years. Among these are cleaning up the business corridors, and adding new businesses to serve and strengthen the neighborhoods of North Long Beach."

Councilman Lerch said, "The community of North Long Beach has worked hard and planned for tens years in anticipation of changing our community. Now that the cloud has been removed from the Redevelopment Agency, I look forward to implementing our plans."

The release adds that Councilman Lerch also looks forward to working with police to find a way to place additional officers on the streets to reduce crime.

"My fellow Council members and I have set policy that will make our police salaries equal to other cities. I now look forward to finding ways of getting new police officer onto our streets," Councilman Lerch says.