Meet The Candidates: McInnis For Long Beach City Council

LONG BEACH, NY — Three Democratic incumbents face a primary for their seat on the Long Beach City Council. One of those on the ballot is Karen McInnis.

Primary day is Tuesday. June 27.

Tell us about your family

Husband - Terrance Blackburn, three-adult stepsons and seven step-grandchildren

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

What's your education?

St. John’s University
Master of Arts in Government and Politics, concentration in Public Administration, 1997
University of Maryland at College Park
Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics, Minor in Economics, 1992

What is your occupation?

Chief Financial Officer, 25 years in financial roles.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Long Beach City Council

Campaign Website

https://www.longbeachonward.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

To ensure that all members of our community have a voice in our government and the future direction of this City; that the City's finances will continue to be managed at the highest level of efficiency and fairness - which I was instrumental in achieving over the past 3.5 years - so that we can lessen the financial burden on our residents through managed, responsible growth and development via new revenue streams including mixed-use development and retail cannabis.

To deal with self-interested members of our community and elsewhere that have had an outsized influence in government operations and decisions; it is unacceptable. Future generations shouldn't have to keep paying for these mistakes and poor decisions.

I am an independent voice representing our entire community and want to help chart its next chapter in a way we can all be proud of.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

We must transition to a permanent City Manager. Now that we have stabilized finances we must align what we want and need in a City Manager going forward. I am working with my colleagues now to move this process forward.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have an extensive, 25-year+ professional record as a member of senior management teams charged with the challenging task of transforming organizations, including managing and hiring staff. I held government positions in my youth, from Nassau County to the US Congress. I started reading the City of Long Beach's audited financials in 2008 voluntarily(!), and determined there were serious issues back then, and have been set on being part of the team to address it ever since.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

With our fiscal house now in order, I am turning to improving delivery of services and optimizing all of our facilities and programs so that all residents feel included, heard and have confidence in their government. I was talking with a resident this past weekend; while some of us were fortunate enough to be able to go to the beach, a graduation party, a play, on our boats or on vacation, many of our neighbors are stilll suffering an unable to meet basic needs such as food, mental health and gainful employment. We must not leave them behind.

Also, I am laser-focused on new revenue opportunities and growing our tax base to lower our reliance on property taxes; the City has to absorb many increases EACH year, in the MILLIONS, just as part of the cost of doing business. We have already done the critical emergency work of stabilizing our finances over the past 3.5 years, which was excruiating, long overdue and thankfully now behind us. As a result, Moody's increased our bond rating twice, which lowers our interest rate and debt service costs and our Comptroller and her team received a prestigious budgeting award from the Government Finance Officer's Association.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my current role as Chief Financial Officer of the Association of American Publishers, I support a Board of Directors comprised of over 20 CEOs from the top publishing houses around the world.

I learn from them every day as to the role and responsibilities of a Board (City Council) member and have applied some of those concepts during my current term, namely, that the City Council sets the direction and vision for the City, and frankly, the staff does all the work.
Our staff's results since I joined the Council in 2020 include managing the COVID-19 pandemic while delivering basic services, securing hundreds of millions in grants for infrastructure projects, negotiating a settlement for the Haberman judgment at almost half of the court-imposed amount, drafting and implementing dozens of new City staff policies and procedures, negotiation of two (of four union contracts), granting full-time status with benefits to several Sanitation workers who were long-term part-time employees and finalizing the agreement with the MTA/LIRR to allow the FEMA-sponsored North Shore Critical Infrastructure Project to move forward.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I have two; One professional and one personal.

Professional:

My boss of ten years and 3 companies (I was part of the team that he brought from company to company to improve organizational operations) said, "If you have a minute, it takes a minute."

Personal:
During my divorce, a friend told me "You are the master of your own fate/destiny." I believe it's from Buddha.
That phrase helped give me the strength and courage to purchase my own house in the West End 18 years ago and rebuild my life to what it is today; I wouldn't change a thing.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I live in the West End with my husband Terry, and our two cats Stella and Twiggy. I'm currently reading The House in the Cerulean Sea (thank you Sam K for recommending). I've played volleyball in the Wednesday night rec league for over 10 years.

I'm so honored to be on the City Council and am proud for what I have done to set the bar higher for the Councilmember role.

I respectfully please ask for your vote so I can continue to serve. To close, my neighbor friend says he sleeps easier knowing I am on the City Council, watching over our finances and the future direction of our City. I will continue to do everything I can to make you feel that way, too.