Long Beach : Business Assn. Leader Quits

The executive director of the Downtown Long Beach Associates has resigned after barely eight months on the job.

The resignation of Laura Winger, 26, came just two months after leaders of the city-sponsored downtown business association said they were looking for someone with more experience for the position. In November they had given Winger a 90-day extension of her contract, during which her performance was to be reviewed. That contract was to have expired next month.

The November announcement coincided with the formation of the Pine Avenue Merchants Assn.--a group whose leadership was critical of the DLBA--leading to speculation that Winger’s professional demise may have been influenced by her enthusiastic support for and involvement in the new business group.

DLBA Chairman Loren Brown has denied any such connection.