From the time Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske left the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees in 1996, to the time she won her City Council seat in 2006, she ran unsuccessfully for four partisan political offices (2006 was the ninth run of her life). Until winning her seat in the conservative Fifth council district, she had cultivated a reputation as being a progressive not afraid to challenge the local Democratic Party establishment.
On Tuesday, July 22, Schipske was the lone dissenting vote against the Mayor’s $571 million infrastructure bond measure which would levy a $120 per parcel tax on Long Beach property owners. Opponents and editorial boards have often characterized her in the past as being too far left of the conservative 5th District (she still may be), but her recent vote put her in line with conservative groups like the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
The following is an interview I conducted with Schipske discussing the dichotomy between her Democratic Party membership and her rigid anti-taxes stance.
I think you have surprised some people by how conservative you have been on local issues, especially taxes. Have you changed any of your views since becoming a City Councilmember?
No. My views are consistent with my campaign and my beliefs.
How did you feel when you saw people writing that you were not a match with the Fifth District, i.e. too liberal?
They obviously didn’t know me. I think people have equated being lesbian with a certain political bent. Trust me, we are as diverse as anyone else. “Liberal” has been the code word for my being “lesbian” for all these years in the press.
However, there is nothing wrong with being “liberal” – I have personally fought against using labels on me or people generally. It is so limiting.
Does once being a Republican influence you at all, considering that you represent the only Long Beach district that voted for George W. Bush in 2004?
Sure and that’s not a bad thing. The bottom line with me: what is in the best interests of the people I represent – Republican, Democrat or Independent. This is not a partisan seat – I was elected because I do believe people understand that I will work on their behalf.
What is your rationale for opposing the Mayor’s infrastructure tax?
The timing. The lack of information. The lack of public input. The lack of discussion on alternatives. The lack of information on the current budget and how this fits in, etc. The general lack of professional courtesy in as much the Council has the votes but it was the last to know what it was being asked to vote on. That’s not a way to make public policy. That’s rubber stamping and last time I checked the City Charter – that’s not what the City Council was elected to do.
If there had been adequate notice to the public, would you have supported putting this measure on the ballot?
Well, there wasn’t adequate notice nor time for discussion (we had 2 hours of discussion on a $518 million issue??). I can’t say what my position would have been because I didn’t get an opportunity to appropriately review the issue.
Have you, or will you, take a position on the other two tax increases that have made it to the ballot so far? The School Board Parcel Tax Measure and the MTA Sales Tax hike?
My constituents are opposed to any tax increases – no matter what the form.
Will you actively campaign against the Mayor’s Parcel tax this November?
No. Because while I voted against it, I do subscribe to the belief that once the legislative body makes a decision, my job is not to campaign against that decision. The voters of this city are exceptionally bright – especially in my district. I don’t have to campaign against this. They feel they are overburdened with taxes, gas prices and a bad economy. Now they are about to hear that they are being asked to tax themselves for new city facilities at the same time they are being told the City is cutting services and closing facilities. I don’t have to say a thing. I won’t make personal attacks – as have been made on me for taking an opposite view. My constituents were not pleased…and said so in the community meeting that I was attacked for daring to oppose this tax… and they are not pleased with the lack of transparency on this issue. The voters are very smart people.