Signal Tribune Newspaper

By Nick Diamantides
Staff Writer

Long Beach’s April 13 citywide municipal primary election is slightly more than nine weeks away, and candidates are intensifying their campaigns. With the office of mayor and five city council seats on the ballot, the election has the potential of installing a new majority in the group that serves as the city’s policy makers.
Mayor Bob Foster, first elected in 2006, is seeking a second term in office. He is facing challenger 21-year-old Stevie Danielle Merino, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
City Attorney Robert Shannon is seeking a fourth term in office. He is facing challenger Tom Reeves, who is currently the city prosecutor. Both men were first elected to their offices in 1998.
Two men are hoping to replace Reeves as city prosecutor. They are Assistant City Prosecutor Timothy O’Reilly and Doug Haubert, who serves as city prosecutor and city attorney for several small contract cities in Southern California.
City Auditor Laura Doud, first elected in 2006, is running unopposed for a second term in office.
Four people are vying for the seat of City Council District 7. Incumbent Councilwoman Tonia Reyes-Uranga is seeking a third term in office, but the city’s term-limits law prohibits her name from appearing on the ballot. She is waging a write-in campaign. Others running for the seat include: Jill Hill, an independent consultant and longtime community activist; James Johnson, assistant city auditor; and Jack Smith, a film and television producer who is also a longtime community activist.
Vice Mayor Val Lerch is also hoping to be reelected to a third term as 9th District City Councilman. Like Uranga, he is undertaking a write-in campaign. Other candidates vying for the 9th District seat include: Dan Pressburg, a bank consultant and longtime community activist; Brad Shore, a psychoanalyst and flight attendant; and Steven Neal, director of a nonprofit organization.
Candidates for other races are as follows: Incumbent 1st District Councilman Robert Garcia is running against challenger Jana Shields. Incumbent 3rd District Councilman Gary DeLong is running against two challengers: Terry Jensen and Tom Marchese. Incumbent Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske is running against challenger Mike Hedges.
In the races having more than two candidates, unless one candidate gets 51 percent of the vote, the two top vote-getters will face each other in a runoff election on June 8.
In upcoming issues, the Signal Tribune will feature interviews with candidates for the office of mayor, city attorney, city prosecutor, Council District 7 and Council District 9.