Councilwoman Gonzalez presents her statement at LB Dem Club endorsement meeting. Audio of all the candidates participating in the meeting below.

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Roughly 35 people attended the club's endorsement meeting held at the LB Firefighters Ass'n union hall in Signal Hill. Among those present were LB Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce and LBCC Trustee Uduak-Joe Ntuk (both on record as Gonzalez supporters.) Also spotted in the audience: retired CA Attorney General/state Treasurer/state Senator Bill Lockyer (dark coat and tie, distant table center of photo below; we're not sure if he cast an endorsement ballot or if so, for whom.] Also present (foreground table in photo below) was LB political consultant/Long Beach Politics Facebook page publisher Ian Patton.

Eight active Dem candidates are vying for the LB-Huntington Park state Senate seat vacated by now-former state Senator (elected Insurance Commissioner in November) Ricardo Lara, who has endorsed Gonzalez. Six Dem candidates participated in the LB Democratic Club's endorsement meeting; LB Councilwoman Gonzalez; Bell Councilman Ali Saleh (written statement read by a supporter); Bell Vice Mayor/Councilwoman Ana Maria Quintana; South Gate Councilwoman Denise Diaz; Central Basin Municipal Water District boardmember Leticia Vasquez Wilson and Thomas Jefferson Cares (not an elected.) The candidates offered short statements and fielded Q & A from club members.

Dem candidates present field LB Dem club members' Q & A, from left to right Quintana, Diaz, Gonzalez, Vasquez Wilson and Cares

None of the candidates went after each other; none from outside LB challenged Councilwoman Gonzalez's record in Long Beach. LBREPORT.com provides on-demand audio of the candidates' statements and salient Q & A. On the candidate statements, audio improves significantly after the first 40 seconds as we spotted a better audio location; the first speaker delivered a written statement on behalf of Councilman Ali Saleh.

• To launch audio of the candidates' statement, click here.

• To launch salient Q & A, click here.

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If no candidate receives 50%+1 of votes cast on March 26, the two top finishers will proceed to a June 4 runoff. Earlier in the day (Feb. 21), Sacramento-based political analyst Scott Lay (publisher of the well-read "Nooner" daily political report and AroundtheCapitol.com) analyzed the election, concluded that a June runoff is likely; the favorite is Lena Gonzalez, "but who will be #2?"

As of Feb. 9 [most recently filed reports], Councilwoman Gonzalez leads in fundraising with over $150,000 cash on hand; Bell Councilman Ali Saleh had over $140,000 cash available (2019 plus 2020 transferable sums, has sent at least one mailer and walkers have also hand-delivered materials); Bell Councilwoman Quintana (an attorney officed in ELB) reported a roughly $90,000+ campaign warchest, and South Gate Councilwoman Diaz has sent two mailers that have landed in LB mailboxes.

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