New Trustee Headed to LBCC; Incumbents Dominate City Council Races

LONG BEACH, CA - The Long Beach Community College Board will have a new trustee after Tuesday's election along with a familiar face.

Current president and longtime trustee Doug Otto bested his challenger, winning 72 percent of the vote in District 4, according to the unofficial results from the City Clerk's office.

District 4 covers the eastern and southeastern side of the city.

Over in District 2, part-time LBCC journalism professor Vivian Williams Malauulu ousted current Trustee Irma Archuleta with 59.3 percent of the vote. With the win, Malauulu will have to forego her teaching job to avoid conflict of interest.

Archuleta was appointed to the board to finish out Roberto Uranga's term. He was elected to the City Council in 2014.

District 2 covers the western side of Long Beach and stretches to Signal Hill.

In the City Council primary race, all the incumbents easily edged out their challengers, winning by wide margins.

Dee Andrews, who ran as a write-in candidate in District 6, per election rules, because he is running for a third, bested his challenger with 48.1 of the vote over Erik Miller with 27.4 percent.

In District 8, Al Austin won over Wesley Turnbow 50.1 percent to 33.5 percent.

With Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal declining to run for re-election, all eyes were on District 2 as the only open race this election. All three candidates vying for the seat all agree on the issue of giving city employees raises but differ on other labor issues.

Eric Gray blamed labor unions for the California Coast Commission's denial of the planned condominium/hotel development in the district. Jeannine Pearce, however, believes the parking issue was the reason for the denial.

Both Gray and Pearce were endorsed by labor groups. Joen Garnica did not receive an endorsement from a labor union partly because she did not sign any statements supporting labor movements.

Pearce was the big winner of the night with 43.6 percent of the vote. Gray was a close second with 36.9 percent. Garnica was a distant third with 19.5 percent.

Councilman Daryl Supernaw ran unopposed in District 4.

The top two vote-getters in the city council races will face off in the general election on June 7, which is also the California presidential primary election.

In Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education races, both incumbents Felton Williams and Jon Meyer won re-election.