Ms. Schipske said she didn't get details the alleged deal at the time, and went on to sketch possible political scenarios (transcribed text below.) None of the participants or other outlets at the event pursued the matter.

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However LBREPORT.com spotted a similar statement made by Ms. Schipske in a Facebook thread on term limits over a month ago and asked Councilman Austin for comment on it at that time. "I don't recall such conversation," he replied in an August 3 Facebook message to us.

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At the Sept. 6 event at the Petroleum Club, presented by the Long Beach Reform Coalition (a newly formed political action committee/PAC), Ms. Schipske (who recently announced formation of her own independent PAC) told a room audience of roughly 80 people that the Mayor/Council-advanced 3-term limit measure (up from the current 2 terms + possible write-ins) isn't genuine reform because it doesn't exclude the current sitting Mayor and Council (to whom it would allow three-terms instead of the current 2 terms + write-in.)

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Ms. Schipske went on to state:

"I will tell you a quick story. I was at the Democratic convention in January and I ran into Councilman Al Austin...He was up there because he's going to run for the state Senate, which is what the term limits is all about. And we chatted and he said, 'The Mayor has made a deal with us.' I said 'about what?' And he said 'term limits.' And he said 'he wants to have a third term.' And I didn't get quite the details of what was offered in that deal...The point is: they are doing this because they have no place to go politically if the stars do not align in November. It's embarrassing. If Ricardo Lara does not win Insurance Commissioner, then...Robert Garcia can't run for state Senate because Ricardo will keep his seat. Patrick O'Donnell's not going anywhere because he has twelve years in the Assembly so those thinking of going to Assembly can't go any place. Rex Richardson wants to run for Mayor. If it doesn't open up, he has nowhere to go, he terms out and as we all know when you're out of office it's very difficult to then to come back into office. So this is about people figuring out where they're going to go and they're desperate to have it done in November because it helps them align with what's going on politically."

Invited by LBREPORT.com late last night and earlier this morning to comment a second time, Councilman Austin has as of 9:00 a.m. Sept. 7 not responded and we presume he stands on his previous denial.

LBREPORT.com this morning invited comment/response from Mayor Garcia.

Developing.

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