Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw being sworn into office by Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Don Knabe. Photos by Jason Ruiz.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe led a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected Fourth District City Councilman Daryl Supernaw at Tuesday night’s Long Beach City Council meeting, making the winner of last month’s special election an official member of the city’s legislative body.
With his right hand held up and his left hand on a bible held by his wife Cheryl, Supernaw recited the oath read to him by the 4th District Supervisor, the small gathering of his supporters erupting with applause at the conclusion.
“Well gang, we did it,” Supernaw said.
Before beginning his thank you speech, Supernaw recounted questions he faced on election night and the months leading up to it. He spoke specifically about how he would be able to gain the support of his colleagues when nearly all of the current council, including Mayor Robert Garcia had endorsed his primary opponent, Herlinda Chico.
“The voters put their faith in me, in an independent candidate, and they trusted me to make it work with city council, a majority city council that was supporting someone else,” Supernaw said.
However, Supernaw said that since then he’s been the recipient of warm receptions and pledges from the council and mayor to work in unison with him toward making Long Beach a better city. There will be no further need for quotes from Groucho Marx or Casey Stengel.
Third District Councilwoman Suzie Price, who also endorsed Chico, said the council is fortunate to welcome a new member that is a lifelong resident of the Fourth, one that’s dedicated to improving the district and city as a whole. She commended Supernaw for his work on the Atherton Street Storm Drain, a $3 million dollar project Supernaw spearheaded that wasn’t funded by the city’s general fund.
“This is exactly the type of out-of-the-box, creative thinking that we are going to need in the critical fiscal times ahead,” Price said.
Mayor Garcia, who is Washington D.C., and Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal were absent from the meeting. However, in a statement read by Price, Lowenthal added her own congratulatory remarks, stating that Supernaw’s colleagues are “invested in your success and that of your constituents.”
“The opportunity to be an elected public servant is certainly one of the most fulfilling experiences of one’s personal and professional life,” Lowenthal’s statement read. “It is a privilege to serve the public and I know you are here for that very reason.”