10 File to Run in 1st Mayoral Race in Long Beach

An eclectic group of 10 residents is doing something for the first time in this city’s history: running for mayor.

The race--set on Thursday when the deadline passed for filing candidate papers--will include some well-known local personalities. There are elected officials, community activists and a Long Beach eccentric who walks around with a parrot on his shoulder. But joining them in the April 12 primary are several unknowns who are making their entrance into local politics by reaching for the top.

The election is notable in several respects.

It marks the first time Long Beach voters citywide have elected the mayor; until now, the mayor has been tapped from the ranks of the City Council by fellow members. It will also be the first time the mayor’s job has been full time with a salary to match: $67,000 annually.

And, as predicted, the race is becoming the most expensive ever fought in Long Beach, with one candidate--Ernie Kell--saying he hopes to spend $400,000 in the primary alone. If nobody wins a majority in the April primary, a runoff of the two top candidates will be held June 7.

In some ways, the race is symbolic of the city’s personality--split between a big city and a small town.

Central Theme

As Long Beach develops a high-rise skyline with promises of even more growth, questions about how it should develop are becoming a central theme in the campaign.

Luanne W. Pryor, for example, has already accused Jan Hall and Ernie Kell, long-time members of the City Council, of creating a “hotel culture” in a downtown she says is for tourists and not residents. Pryor stresses a concern that the downtown and some of the neighborhoods have been over developed.

Hall, who has been on the council for 10 years, says the council’s move last year to change zoning in some areas to protect neighborhoods could have been done sooner if it wasn’t for “the current leadership”--referring to Kell.

And Kell said the issue of “preserving the integrity of the neighborhoods” was handled as the problems were raised by the council member representing the respective district. “Maybe there were some areas that could have been handled (by building moratoriums and down-zoning) faster, but overall, we have done a good job with the neighborhoods,” Kell said.

Kell, who remembers when city officials could get only a motel chain to bid in the city’s center, said he is proud of the revitalization taking place downtown, where two hotels are under construction and two more are in the planning stage. He calls the development that is changing the downtown skyline “planned, orderly growth.”

‘Managed Growth’

For her part, Hall said she supports “managed growth.” And that means anticipating traffic problems a new development would bring and mitigating those problems before they occur.

Along the big city vs. small town lines is the issue of whether the city should continue to fight airlines that want to increase flights into Long Beach Airport. So far, the city--backed unanimously by the City Council--is losing its court battle.

A federal court order to increase the number of flights has riled many in the community, including most mayoral candidates. But candidates Thomas (Ski) Demski and E. W. (Bud) Huber stand out from the group. Both view Long Beach as a growing city whose residents, business people and tourists need and want more from their local airport.

The candidates have staked out other issues.

Huber supports moratoriums on amendments to the city’s general plan and spot rezoning that increases density. He supports charging developers impact fees except on projects such as low-income and senior housing, and establishing a civilian police review board.

Demski, who is known about town for his large flags and parrots, wants more marked crosswalks. He also wants the city to change the ordinance that forbids him from trading his 125-foot-high flagpole for a higher one.

Insurance as Issue

David E. Kaye makes no bones about seeking political office so he can get the word out about a statewide initiative to reform homeowner and small business liability insurance.

“I’ve decided to run for mayor--seriously--and the platform is posted” for lower insurance, Kaye said.

John J. Kearney said he objects to council members getting a pay increase to 25% of the full-time mayor’s salary. Kearney said that if he were elected, he would save money by firing the city manager and running the city himself.

Lou Robillard said he would like to place all environmental impact reviews--often voluminous documents about development proposals--on the ballot. “An EIR is your local control over your environment,” Robillard said.

Rayfield Bates said he wants to push for affordable housing and work to ease the plight of the homeless and the burdens of the elderly.

Information on candidate Richard H. Hallowell was not available.

LONG BEACH MAYORAL CANDIDATESRAYFIELD BATES

Occupation: Maintenance worker at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard.

Age: 35.

Political and civic background: None.

Strengths: Says he has about 30 volunteers, which would be more than most of the other dark-horse candidates; has some specific ideas, including housing the homeless in vacant buildings while providing them with training and child care facilities.

Vulnerabilities: Has no political service; lacks name recognition and campaign financing.

JAN HALL

Occupation: Councilwoman.

Age: 45.

Political and civic background: Three-term City Council member, first elected in 1978 and reelected in 1982 and 1986; board president of the Southern California Rapid Transit District; chairwoman of the California Commission on the Status of Women; member of the Governor’s Child Care Task Force; board member of Californians for Better Transportation, and a member or head of a lengthy list of organizations.

Strengths: As a current councilwoman, RTD board president and a longtime activist, has wide name recognition; articulate; boasts of dedicated corps of volunteers; strong ties to high-ranking Republicans, including Gov. George Deukmejian.

Vulnerabilities: Has emptied most of her campaign account and switched campaign advisers in the middle of the race; as board president of a problem-plagued RTD might have to answer for its shortcomings.

E.W. (BUD) HUBER JR.

Occupation: Aircraft engineering manager.

Age: 43.

Political and civic background: Unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 1986; member of the Belmont Shore Improvement Assn.

Strengths: Not afraid to take stands on issues, such as support of a civilian police review board, which could gain him liberal votes.

Vulnerabilities: Has little name recognition; limited campaign organization; is unsure how much money he can raise.

JOHN J. KEARNEY

Occupation: Retired firefighter.

Age: 64.

Political and civic background: Past member of council district advisory board; past president of the Long Beach-based Retired Police and Firemen’s Assn. of America.

Strengths: Long Beach resident for 40 years; as a retiree, has time to dedicate to campaign.

Vulnerabilities: Has not held public office; little name recognition; no campaign organization; plans to spend no money in the campaign.

LUANNE W. PRYOR

Occupation: Public relations firm owner.

Age: 59.

Political and civic background: President of the Beach Area Citizens Involved; past chairwoman of the Cultural Heritage Committee; member of several groups, including the Mayor and Council’s Task Force on the Homeless, the Mayor’s Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Restructuring City Government, the Coalition for Historic Long Beach and the Cable Communications Advisory Commission.

Strengths: Has staked out a detailed campaign platform, based on protecting neighborhoods from development; able to clearly articulate positions; well acquainted with local government programs; long list of public service.

Vulnerabilities: Has never held municipal elective office and will raise far less money and have less name identification than the two candidates who already hold public office.

THOMAS (SKI) DEMSKI

Occupation: Owner of a bumper sticker business.

Age: 58.

Political and civic background: Unsuccessfully ran for City Council seat in 1986; Elks member.

Strengths: A good self-promoter; best known for his collection of huge U.S. flags and a 125-foot-high flagpole outside his home/business in downtown; stands out in a crowd, partially because he often travels with a parrot on his shoulder.

Vulnerabilities: Concentrates on a few select issues near to his own heart--such as support for crosswalks--but says little on other issues affecting a wider cross section; has raised no campaign funds.

RICHARD H. HALLOWELL

(Information and photo of candidate Richard H.

Hallowell was not available.)

DAVID E. KAYE

Occupation: Landlord.

Age: 62.

Political and civic background: Former secretary of California Teachers Assn., Compton College chapter; is pushing a statewide initiative on liability insurance reform; has worked in other political campaigns.

Strengths: Masters degree in city and urban planning.

Vulnerabilities: Emphasizes he is running for mayor to push his statewide initiative for home and small business negligence and liability insurance reform; says his campaign financing is limited to “$40 worth of stamps;” never held public office.

ERNIE KELL

Occupation: Councilman-mayor and retired general contractor.

Age: 59.

Political and civic background: A councilman since 1975; elected mayor by his colleagues in 1984 and again in 1986; member of several organizations, including the American Legion and the Elks; founding member and past president of the California Steel Detailer’s Assn.; board member of the Southeast Energy Facility.

Strengths: As figurehead mayor appointed by the City Council, he already carries the title; goes into the race with the most money and longest list of endorsements, from downtown business leaders to several key labor unions.

Vulnerabilities: As the appointed mayor, the most likely target for criticism of the current administration; appears uncomfortable speaking in front of large crowds.

LOU ROBILLARD

Occupation: Retired aerospace analyst.

Age: 67.

Political and civic background:

President of Stop Takeover of Planes (STOP).

Strengths:

Has experience in organizing through efforts to stop additional commercial flights into Long Beach Airport.

Vulnerabilities:

Has not held public office; no campaign financing or organization.