9:50pm | Bob Shannon is close to a fourth term as City Attorney with 57.2% of the early votes over challenger Tom Reeves, who served three terms as City Prosecutor before deciding to pursue Shannon’s job. Reeves surprised many by leaving a seemingly secure position as City Prosecutor to make the run at City Attorney. Shannon is held in high regard for his job overseeing more than twenty lawyers and his advice to the City Council.
“I’m feeling very good,” says Shannon, who campaigned to victory for the fourth time. He ran successfully in 1998, 2002 and 2006. “I’m very grateful that the voters have seen and respected what I’ve done for the city.”
Reflecting on the last dozen years on the job, and his opponent, City Prosecutor Tom Reeves, Shannon sat and talked with a combination of a slightly satisfied grin and a dose of nostalgia. Shannon was leading roughly 57 percent to 42 percent as of this report.
“I’ve been city attorney for 12 years and I think I’ve done a damned good job,” he says. “Tom has been a good prosecutor, and I want that to be known. But being a city prosecutor and a city attorney are two totally different jobs. They are totally different specialties.”
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In the First District, incumbent Robert Garcia received 68.9% of the early returns over challenger Jana Shields. The Long Beach City College administrator served one year in office after winning a special election in April 2009 to replace Bonnie Lowenthal – who moved on to the State Assembly – and so Garcia ran his second City Council race in as many Aprils to receive his first four-year term on the Council.
“It’s an honor to be re-elected and I am honored to serve such a great city. Tonight is an exciting night for Long Beach,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s tenure thus far has been marked by the renovation of a skate park largely used by at-risk youth, the implementation of an Equal Benefits Ordinance – requiring businesses that work with the City to offer equal benefits to their employees’ partners whether same-sex or opposite-sex – and leading the attempt to court Google’s ultra-speed internet system to test in Long Beach.
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Gary DeLong took a commanding lead over two challengers in the City Council’s 3rd District, earning 67.3% of the early returns. DeLong was elected in 2006 and has since taken a lead role in the City Budget process.
“My decisive victory indicates that the days of the Police Union having an inappropriate amount influence in City Hall are ending. The power is returning to the people where it should be,” DeLong said.
As the most conservative member of the Council, DeLong ran for re-election on his concerns that pensions are draining the financial stability of the city. Despite a loyal base that is serving him well tonight, his opponents pushed DeLong regarding his support of a land swap with developer Tom Dean that would have traded valuable City property for Dean’s wetlands which seemed to be heavily unbalanced financially.
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In the City Council race for the 5th District seat, incumbent Gerrie Schipske is sprinting towards relection with 65.1% of the early returns. Schipske took office four years ago by defeating write-in incumbent Jackie Kell in 2006.
“I’m doing well. The absentees are pretty much an indicator of how the night should go. I think the work of (my) office and staff and the transparency of everything we do helped. When I was walking the neighborhood campaigning I heard a lot from folks who said: ‘I may not always agree with you but you fight for us you fight for the district and that’s why I am voting for you.'”
But Schipske proudly touted funds that she helped bring to East Long Beach, resulting in street and sidewalk repair even amid the cloudy economic era. The Councilmember has earned a reputation as an independent voice that spoke sharply against the proposed wetlands swap.
Schipske was recently named the executive director of the Orange County Democratic Party, although she says that announcement was premature and that discussions are ongoing. She has stated that any duties with the party would not affect her City Council responsibilities.
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