LBPOST.com: LBPOST.com Readers Cast Early 7th District Votes In Poll

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LBPOST.com Readers Cast Early 7th District Votes In Poll

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 02.05.10 |

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More than 1,400 responses were counted in the latest LBPOST.com poll of candidates for the upcoming round of elections to the Long Beach City Council.

A tight race is expected to unfold as four candidates have emerged for the 7th District City Council seat that voters will select in April. The seat is currently held by Tonia Reyes Uranga, who was first elected in 2002 and will be holding a write-in campaign to retain her position (councilmembers are termed out after serving two four-year terms, but may run again as write-in candidates).

Reyes Uranga ran for State Assembly in 2008 but was defeated by eventual winner Bonnie Lowenthal in the Democratic primary.

In the LBPOST.com poll, which lasted for one week and ended last Friday, challengers Jack Smith and James Johnson battled for the lead. Smith is a former rocket scientist and software engineer in the entertainment industry. Smith also formerly served on the Long Beach Housing Development Company before he was not re-appointed last May. He is a vocal participant at City Council and other community meetings and helped found Better Balance For Long Beach - which has been praised for its efforts to develop the 14th Street Skate Park and hold annual Christmas Toy Drives - in 2006. His website stresses his commitment to bringing the City Budget under control.

Johnson graduated from Harvard and the Berkeley School of Law to work in a Los Angeles firm, but has served as the Long Beach Assistant City Auditor since 2007. Johnson has said that he offers expertise on budgets due to his experience in the Auditor's office, and made waves all the way back in June 2008 when he reported more than $53,000 raised in campaign funds.

In a very narrow race, Smith ended up capturing the greatest number of votes, with 34% of the 1,414 cast. Johnson received 33% of the votes, although the LBPOST.com poll is an unscientific tool meant to spark discussion and debate rather than provide concrete information.

In third place in the poll, Jill Hill received 24% of the total vote. Hill has been a consultant with the Long Beach Environmental Services Bureau since 2001, and has served as President of the Wrigley Area Neighborhood Association since 2007. Hill aims for sustainable, long-term approaches to issues such as the budget and the environment that face both the district and the city.

Receiving 8% of the votes was the incumbent, Tonia Reyes Uranga. In her eight years with the Council, Reyes Uranga has earned a reputation as a fierce defender of environmental and neighborhood issues. Reyes Uranga is held in high regard by many residents in her district and will surely command a greater share of the actual vote than she did in our unscientific poll.

Plenty of time still remains before voters hit the polls, so any candidate can emerge as the frontrunner between now and April. Plenty of intriguing discussion was generated in the Comments section of our article on the LBPOST.com poll, revealing an engaged populace eager for the April vote. One of the main questions is, will Reyes Uranga be able to count on strong support when her name does not appear on the ballot?

Or is it time for Smith, Johnson or Hill to have their shot?

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Comments

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J or J or J
Jack Hill or James Johnson would be sooooo much better than the incumbent. 7th district please help us out and vote for anyone with a name that starts with J.

Paul
One needs to ask where does that out of town money come from for Johnson, and why? Three of the canidates want to join the "Family" or are already in. Who is for the average citizen making ends meet everyday? As we know the Family members often don't live here, with the high pay or great investments made at our residents expense. One canidate of the four running has a clear record of honesty and brilliant work for others, with nothing expected in return. Let the voters decide who that is.

anyone but uranga
anyone but uranga

Informed
I'm suspicious of any candidate running for vocal office who can raise tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of dollars!

westsider
3 current City employees and one independent R running for the 7th Council seat. Our City continues to hemorrhage Red Ink due to bad financial decision by our current council. Pensions cost over 90 million dollars this year and will surpass 100 million by 2012. Uranga is one of the last two council members to vote for the pension spike of 2002. She has never voted against any employee compensation contract. Employee compensation now consumes 85% of the general fund, which is supposed to provide for all city, not just employee compensation. We need a new council person that has a stronge finanical back ground and is not a City Employee Union Lackey. Just vote for Jack Smith.

commonsense
Anyone who was at the debate for the 7th district council seat would know who the winner was, and who should win the election. Just like Measure I, a grassroots movement can win without spending mounds of money, and without the support of the unions and other special interest. Times really are changing, and people are realizing what these politicians have done to squeeze every bit of fees and taxes from us, and then spend it on the unions to stay in office. Their biggest nightmare is to lose power, so they compromise themselves to the highest bidder; then start working for the unions and special interest, instead of the citizens of Long Beach. The electorate does not need to look any further than Jack Smith, a leader, who has worked hard for the community and a very knowledgeable person when it comes to budgets. Because he did not get special interest money, because those who dole it out know Jack cannot be bought, and he will be his own person and stand on his principles.

candace cameron
great coverage!

FED UP WITH URANGA
First Uranga is not running and her hubby is...then her hubby is not running and she is...we have term limits for a reason! Just look at her endorsements and you'll see...dump her and Lerch! Jack Smith is the only real choice here!!!!! Vote Jack and return the seat to the people!

IWantToSwim
7th, please elect someone that is pro breakwater reconfiguration. Thanks.

Scott
I was at the debate with the four candidates sponsored by the Wrigley Association last Monday. I thought it was a great debate and answered many of my questions. James Johnson came off as a politician, but showed little experience in Long Beach outside of his paid city position (he answered the question of what had he done that he had not been paid for by saying he attended a meeting a year an a half ago). Jill Hill was uninspiring, and her answer about whether she was a democrat or republican was absolutely hilarious. Tonia was knowledgeable, but I think there is a good reason for term limits. That leaves Jack Smith, who presented himself as understanding the issues, and capable of dealing with them. As he reminded the audience several times, I think it is time to just vote Jack.

5th District Warden
Any chance for a LBPOST poll in the 5th?

ly
How can someone how puts his finger in his ears well someone is speaking can represent me? and that was Jack Smith

Joe
Vote for Uranga! She is one of the few Council members that questions the status quo.

Maggie
I'm not a Tonya fan, but Jill Hill- really? A hairdresser who sued a community organization over Christmas displays? Add to that the fact that she is clueless on many important issues. Unfortunately for her she's clueless about her cluelessness. Johnson is well educated, and knows it-- and makes sure you know it. I don't trust someone who has raised a great deal of $$ from folks trying to buy the airport. Yes, our airport. I also have heard him debate and was not impressed with his answers. He answered questions with questions. Jack can be quirky-- but he's down to earth. He's also extremely intelligent and doesn't need to remind you. He seems to be the one outsider. Maybe that's a good thing.

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen is a graduate of the CSULB School of Journalism, writing for the campus' Union Weekly newspaper and serving as Sports Editor for one year. He has written for numerous news and sports websites and magazines, as well as television experience with Fox Sports and ABC Channel 7.