In What Ways, If At All, Would Candidates Seeking To Become LB's Next 1st Dist. Councilmember Have Voted Differently Than Prior Incumbent Gonzalez On These Actual Council Agenda Items? We Asked And Here's What They Said/Didn't Say

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Perspective / Politics For Grown-Ups

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(Oct. 2, 2019, 2:05 p.m.) -- In any election, a threshold question to ask is to what extent, if at all, would a candidate seeking to replace the prior City Council incumbent have voted differently than the prior incumbent. LBREPORT.com's experience is that candidates (and their campaign consultants if any) don't like questions like this. It gets the candidate "off message" (themes they think will get them votes.)

Too bad. LBREPORT.com asked all eight candidates seeking to become LB's next 1st dist. Councilmember about actual Council agendized actions that affected LB taxpayers and the way the City is run. If they had the Council voting power they now seek, would they have pushed the "yes" or "no" button or made substitute motions? No campaign cliches. No scripted messages.

Four candidates responded: Misi Tagaloa, Mariela Salgado, Elliot Gonzales and Shelbyrae Black.

Four candidates didn't respond: Mary Zendejas (endorsed by previous incumbent Gonzalez, Council incumbent Richardson and Mayor Garcia.), Joe Morquecho (emailed but declined to answer), Joe Ganem and Shirley Huling.

(For LBREPORT.com "Follow the Money" coverage of who's given sums to elect the candidates, click here.)

Below are the responses received from the candidates who did respond on the following Council agenda items..

[Scroll down for further.]

Approval of FY20 city management proposed/Mayor recommended budget

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salgado: "Neutral" on Mayor-recommended budget [Ed. note: there is no "neutral" voting choice for Councilmembers]

Elliot Gonzales: Yes

Shelbyrae Black: No

Follow-up: How many police officers, if any, would you have proposed to restore for LB taxpayers as part of FY 20 budget?

Misi Tagaloa: Ten

Mariela Salgado: No number provided "requires further analysis" but would like to see any restorations prioritized for anti-gang unit

Elliot Gonzales: No add'l restored police

Shelbyrae Black: No number provided but would "like to see more officers"

Approval to place measure on March 2020 ballot to make Measure A General Fund ("blank check") sales tax permanent

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salgado: No

Elliot Gonzales: Yes

Shelbyrae Black: No

Follow-up: Do you support the March 2020 ballot measure to make Measure A sales tax permanent?

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salgado: No

Eliot Gonzales: Didn't offer response

Shelbyrae Black: No

Approval to place Chater Amendments AAA-DDD on special Nov. 2018 ballot

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salgado: No direct response but see below

Elliot Gonzales: No direct response but see below

Shelbyrae Black: No to put AAA on ballot but see below.

Follow-up: Which of the proposed Charter Amendments, if any, did you support?

Misi Tagaloa: Yes on AAA, CCC + DDD; No on BBB

Mariela Salgado: Yes on AAA, CCC + DDD, No on BBB

Elliot Gonzales: Yes on AAA, CCC + DDD, No on BBB

Shelbyrae Black: Yes on AAA, CCC + DDD, No on BBB

Approval to place Measure M on June 2018 ballot to let City tap a portion of Water Dept. revenue for Gen'l Fund spending purposes

Misi Tagaloa: No

Mariela Salgado: Didn't offer direct response but see below.

Elliot Gonzales: Didn't offer direct response but see below.

Shelbyrae Black: No.

Follow-up: Did you support of oppose Measure M?

Misi Tagaloa: No

Mariela Salgado: Yes for infrastructure but "didn't expect or agree with 12% water rate increase"

Elliot Gonzales: No

Shelbyrae Black: No.

Approval of LBPOA contract that includes provision informing officer of Public Records Act request under SB 1421 related to his/her actions

Misi Tagaloa: No

Mariela Salgado: No

Elliot Gonzales: No

Shelbyrae Black: No

Approval of "economic development subsidies" that allowed developer ofJergins Trust (Ocean/Pine) site envisioned luxury hotel toretain 80% of transient occupancy tax for 9 years, Breakers Hotel (80% of TOT for 9 yrs) and $1 reduction in sale price reduction for NLB (Atlantic/Artesia NE quadrant)

Misi Tagaloa: No.

Mariela Salgado: No.

Elliot Gonzales: No

Shelbyrae Black: Yes

Approval to spend $1 million from LB's "Special Advertising and Promotion Fund" to add a "media wall" in the lobby of LB's new City Hall?

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salgado: No

Elliot Gonzales: No

Shelbyrae Black: No

Approval of 66 year lease for Urban Commons re Queen Mary (ship and development of surrounding land) that included $23 million ($5 million from reserves plus $17 mil debt bond) to pay for Queen Mary ship repairs?

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salgado: No.

Shelbyrae Black: Yes

Elliot Gonzales: "Not sure what to do about the Queen Mary...seems like it is worth saving but yet it becomes more expensive year after year."

Approval of Civic Center transaction (Dec. 2015 vote)

Misi Tagaloa: Yes.

Mariela Salgado: No.

Elliot Gonzales: No

Shelbyrae Black: Yes

Approval to reduce/cut testimony on agenda items to 90 seconds per speaker (when 10 or more persons seek to speak) and require the pblic to sign up to sign up before agenda item is called or be barred from speaking on the item

Misi Tagaloa: No

Mariela Salagado: No

Elliot Gonzales: No

Shelbyrae Black: No

LBREPORT.com also inquires: Will you commit within 90 days of taking office to agendize an item to restore (terms to be developed) the public's previous right to agendize items?

Misi Tagaloa: Yes

Mariela Salagado: "I will not make any commitments to the people of the First District I cannot keep." [Ed. note: A candidate can keep a commitment to agendize an item,but not keep a promise related to its ultimate outcome.]

Elliot Gonzales: Yes

Shelbyrae Black: Yes

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