The 8th district's current Councilman, Al Austin has announced the endorsement of former LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill, a Peninsula resident. She joins current LB Mayor Robert Garcia, a downtown area resident, in endorsing incumbent Austin.

Councilman Austin, elected in 2012 with the endorsement of Ms. Gabelich (who chose not to pursue a third term), is seeking a third term without LB's former write-in requirement as a result of Charter Amendment BBB, which Mr. Ovalle and the Reform Coalition opposed and Councilman Austin joined a unanimous Council in putting on the ballot. LB voters approved BBB in November 2018 following a six-figure campaign by a political committee operated by Mayor Garcia.

Ms. Gaeblich scored a political upset in 2004 by outpolling an O'Neill-endorsed incumbent (who now lives in Hawaii.) Ms. Gabelich founded LBHUSH2 and prioritized neighborhood quality of life against efforts by others to allow expanded operations at LB Airport. (In January 2017, Councilman Austin voted against allowing a customs facility at LB Airport that would have enabled internatonal operations.) As a Councilman, Kellogg, while business friendly, was likewise neighborhood protective and frequently raised taxpayer spending issues.

Neither Councilmembers Gabelich (2004-2012) nor Kellogg (1988-2000) were on the Council when it approved with Mayor O'Neill presiding, the 2002 "pension spike" that current city management says is today a major cost major factor reducing available General Fund sums [that could otherwise provide taxpayer services.]

[Scroll down for further.]

In a Jan.14 emailing, Ms. Gabelich urged grassroots financial support for Mr. Ovalle to counter over $100,000 in campaign contributions from Los Angeles-area donors to Ms. Ntuk and police and firefighter union sums expected for incumbent Austin. Ms. Gabelich said Austin "would love to hold on for 4 more years, giving him 12 years of representing us with minimal change" and, after what she said was a three hour interview with Ms. Ntuk, concluded that she is "devoted to high density housing across our district." Ms. Gabelich described Mr. Ovalle as "a person with a strong dedicated commitment to bringing a more open government back to Long Beach."

Mr. Kellogg said that while he had to deal with "lost revenue and a major economic realignment" during his Council years, the City has since received a "massive influx of tax and other revenue" but provides taxpayers with "a police force down nearly 200 officers" and closed Fire Station 9 "due to lack of proper maintenance with no reopening date in sight." He said Mr. Ovalle has been "the most forceful voice among all the candidates for these and other critical issues, raising concerns about how our tax dollars are being prioritized and spent" on these issues and "about the influence of special interests."

Sponsor

Sponsor

In a release announcing former Mayor O'Neill's enforsement, Councilman Austin's campaign noted that she joins endorsers including Mayor Garcia, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell.

Councilman Austin said Mayor O'Neill's "integrity and commitment while in office is unmatched" and he's deeply honored to have her continued confidence and support.

Sponsor

Sponsor

March 3, 2020 is "elecion day" (with vote by mail ballots scheduled to begin flying in the coming weeks) in LB's 2nd, 6th and 8th Council districts, along with a citywide ballot measure for which the Council declared a "fiscal emergency" to seek voter approval to permanently impose the Measure A sales tax that the Mayor/Council told voters in June 2016 would be temporary. Mr. Ovalle is among three co-signers of the ballot argument in opposition to extending the Measure A sales tax.

Sponsor

Sponsor

Sponsor

Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.