Long Beach voters have a lot to decide today: City Council candidates in three districts, two ballot measures, state measures and candidates, Congressional seats—and of course, their pick for the presidential nomination.
This is the first time in recent history that the city is holding its local contests on the same day as the state primary election, which should boost voter turnout—and create some uncertainty in who the winners and losers will be when results roll out Tuesday night.
Significant changes have also been made this year in Los Angeles County as to how voters will cast ballots. Rather than mailing ballots or showing up to precincts on Election Day, voters can visit any voting center in the county starting Feb. 22 (however the majority of Long Beach’s 34 centers open Saturday).
Voters who visit the centers can either drop off their mail-in ballots (or mail them), or surrender their mail-in ballots to cast an in-person vote. For more information and a map of where they are located, click here.
Polls will be open Tuesday, March 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Here are some of the issues Long Beach voters will be asked to decide:
COUNCIL DISTRICTS
Voters will decide who their representative will be on the City Council in three districts. In the 4th District, which includes the Traffic Circle and Los Altos areas, the incumbent, Daryl Supernaw, is unchallenged.
In District 2 (the Downtown and Alamitos Beach areas), the incumbent, Jeannine Pearce, is not seeking reelection. The candidates hoping to replace her are businesswoman Cindy Allen, mental health provider Jeanette Barrera, school police officer Jose Cisneros, Cal State Long Beach professor Eduardo Lara, accountant Nigel Lifsey, activist Ryan Lum and Realtor and businessman Robert Fox.
In District 6 (Central Long Beach), six challengers are running against incumbent Dee Andrews. They are Ana Arce, an employee benefits coordinator; Sharifah Hardie, a business consultant; Suely Saro, a professor and consultant; Craig Ursuy, an adjunct professor; and Josephine Villasenor, a businesswoman.
In District 8 (Bixby Knolls and parts of North Long Beach), two challengers are trying to unseat incumbent Al Austin. They include Juan Ovalle, a business owner; and Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, an economic development director.
Visit the Long Beach Post’s Compare Your Candidate tool to hear the candidates’ answers to a range of questions, or watch our forums on each district: District 2, District 6 and District 8.
BALLOT MEASURES
All residents in Long Beach will decide on two ballot measures:
Measure A would permanently extend a 1% sales tax passed in 2016. The tax generated roughly $60 million a year to fund improvements to infrastructure and public safety. Supporters say a permanent extension is needed to pay for ongoing improvements, salaries of police and fire personnel and other expenses. Opponents argue the tax is regressive and harms retailers, restaurants and small business owners.
Measure B would raise the hotel bed tax—known as the transient occupancy tax—from 6% to 7%. The tax, expected to generate about $2.8 million in new revenue, would fund improvements to the Long Beach Convention Center and support arts organizations throughout the city.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include a candidate who was accidentally left out.