Vice Mayor Andrews announced his plans at an fundraiser tonight (March. 28) for invited contributors to his officeholder account, then stepped outside outside the event and told us by phone what he told his supporters minutes earlier.

To hear Vice Mayor Andrews tell us he's seeking re-election in 2020 and why he's doing so, click here.

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The announcement effectively makes Andrews the first Long Beach incumbent to benefit from a provision in Charter Amendment BBB that eliminated LB's former write-in requirement for third terms and above. Although in 2016, Andrews' name wasn't on the ballot and he had to wage a write-in campaign -- and won re-election without a runoff with 51.03% of the vote -- his name will be printed on the ballot in 2020 as a result of Measure BBB..

Measure BBB also included what in effect provided a carve-out for Andrews by not counting his previous write-in term as a third term., effectively letting him seek a real-world fourth term that Measure BBB only counts as a third term (in addition to avoidong a write-in requirement in 2020...meaning whoever faces him will go head to head with him lisred on the ballot.

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One 6th district challenger has surfaced thus far: On February 20, 2019, Suely Saro, an aide to immediate-past state Senator Ricardo Lara and a supporter of 1st dist. Councilwoman Lena Gonalez's bid to succed him, announced a run for the 6th district Council seat, which includes much of LB's "Cambodia Town." Ms. Saro, born in a Thailand refugee camp, is the daughter of parents who fled the Cambodian genocide. In a political irony, Measure BBB (with its provisions now benefiting Andrews) was supported by leaders of Equity for Cambodians.

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Andrews was first elected in a 2007 "winner-take-all" special election (held when former 6th district Councilwoman Laura Richardson was elected to the state Assembly in Nov. 2006.) Andrews received 27.25% of the vote in a multi-candidate field, re-elected to a full four year term in 2008, re-elected in 2012, and re-elected again in 2016 (with 51.03% of the votes in then-required write-in campaign.)

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The next Council incumbent who could benefit from Measure BBB (by avoiding the now-erased third-term write-in requirement) is 8th district Councilman Al Austin, first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 (who to our knowledge hasn't publicly announced his future political plans.) In the May 2007 6th district special election, Austin sought the seat but narrowly lost to Andrews (despite backing for Austin by organized labor and then-Mayor Bob Foster.) In 2012, with the endorsement of two-term exiting 8th dist. Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, Austin won the 8th district Council seat and was re-elected in April 2016, avoiding a runoff with 50.97% of the vote against two challengers. If Austin seeks re-election in 2020, he likewise won't have to meet the former third-term write-in requirement as a result of Measure BBB.

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