Activists launch Long Beach Reform Coalition, a political action committee, to fight against term-limits charter amendment
(Original Link below)
Local News
Voters showed early at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. (Photo by
Brittany Murray, Press Telegram/SCNG)
By Emily Rasmussen | erasmussen@scng.com | Long Beach Press-Telegram
PUBLISHED: August 27, 2018 at 3:22 pm | UPDATED: August 28, 2018 at 9:37 am
A handful of Long Beach political and neighborhood groups have come together to oppose the
possible creation of a three-term limit for the mayor and City Council.
Those groups announced this week the formation of the Long Beach Reform Coalition, which
will campaign against a proposed charter amendment, Measure BBB, that would eliminate the
ability for termed-out council incumbents to run as write-in candidates, but also cap their
service at 12 years.
In a statement announcing its creation, the coalition said Measure BBB is a “deceptive
amendment to expand term limits.”
Currently, after the mayor and council members serve two terms, their names cannot appear
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on another primary ballot. However, they can seek additional terms as write-in candidates; if
write-ins fail to win outright during the primary but are among the top-two vote-getters, then
they can appear on the general election ballot.
Proponents of Measure BBB — which will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot along with three other
amendments — say the charter amendment closes a loophole that allows candidates to run
indefinitely. More broadly, Mayor Robert Garcia and City Auditor Laura Doud, who brought
forth the package of amendments, said taken together, they are about good governance.
“We believe that these measures, which would strengthen the Auditor’s Office, strengthen local
term limits, and create independent ethics and redistricting commissions, are smart reforms
that create a more open and responsive city government,” said Mark Taylor, Mayor Robert
Garcia’s chief of staff, in a statement. “A broad coalition of supporters, including our Police and
Fire associations, is joining to support this package of measures.”
Opponents disagree.
“We find that to be Orwellian nonsense,” said Ian Patton, a political consultant for the coalition.
“This is a blatant attempt to extend to three-term limits.”
The coalition was created by individuals and eight groups, including Citizens About
Responsible Planning, Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Eastside Voice, Long Beach
Neighborhoods First and Long Beach Taxpayers Association. Patton said the coalition was
created to join forces in fundraising and campaign efforts; but Measure BBB, he added, is just
the start of issues the political-action committee plans to tackle involving city government —
including opposing, for the most part, the other charter amendments.
But defeating Measure BBB is the primary goal.
“Incumbency in this city is a virtual guarantee of reelection,” Patton said. “The special interest
money that flows into incumbents – and resources are so limited to challengers — people will
stay in office for over a decade. There won’t be an option for different leadership if that’s what
(the people) want.”
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Coalition member Joe Sopo, president of Long Beach Neighborhoods First, echoed Patton and
said he thinks the current law for candidates is fair.
“There is no loophole,” Sopo said. “It’s clear: two terms, and if you’re damn good, you could be
rewarded with a third term. Most council members will not rise to that level.”
In 1992, voters approved the current term rules.
Former Mayor Beverly O’Neill won a third term as a write-in in 2002 with a runoff.
Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, a former District 4 councilman, won a third term as a write-in
candidate with a runoff in 2012. Vice Mayor Dee Andrews, of District 6, is serving his third term
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that he won as a write-in candidate in 2016 without a runoff.
A ballot measure in 2007 would have allowed incumbents to appear on the ballot three times
— but it failed miserably, with more than two-thirds of voters rejecting it.
Proponents hope voters will go the other way this time.
“We understand some folks will have a difference of opinion and that is OK,” Taylor said. “In
the end, the voters will decide.”
Councilwoman Suzie Price, who represents District 3, said she is still undecided about the
term-limits item –seeing both the concerns and benefits.
“It really would be giving council members a third term,” Price said. “It’s much more challenging
against running (an incumbent) candidate.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that Mark Taylor, Mayor Robert Garcia’s chief
of staff, was quoted, and not Garcia.
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