5:57am | In the City Council race for the 5th District seat, incumbent Gerrie Schipske defeated challenger Mike Hedges by securing 63.9% of the vote on Tuesday.
Schipske will serve four more years in the position after initially taking office by defeating write-in incumbent Jackie Kell in 2006. Hedges, the owner of a Signal Hill construction company that sometimes does business with the City of Long Beach, ran a campaign based on long-term solutions to budget problems. In a public debate between the two candidates, Hedges seemed to be unfamiliar with some District and citywide issues.
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.