LOCAL ELECTIONS L.B. 1ST COUNCIL DISTRICT : Foes Agree on Little in Race

One of the few things that Councilman Evan Anderson Braude and challenger Bill Stovall have in common is that they are both running for the same downtown council seat.

After that, the first-term incumbent and the retired deputy police chief part ranks. Whether the subject is expanding the police force, the homeless or historic preservation, Stovall and Braude often disagree.

Backed by the police union, Stovall ran on an anti-crime platform and emerged the top vote-getter of the three challengers running against Braude in the April primary, forcing the councilman into a runoff election on Tuesday.

Stovall had spent about $39,000 on his campaign as of May 19, and Braude about $61,000.

At 57, Stovall is making his first political bid, vowing to say no to many things that Braude has said yes to.

One of the centerpieces of Stovall’s campaign has been his opposition to the police funding proposition on next week’s ballot, a proposal that Braude supports.

He proposes enlarging the public safety area’s share of the general fund budget from 52% to 55%.

“He’s sort of Long Beach’s answer to voodoo economics,” retorts Braude, a 42-year-old attorney for Mercury Savings & Loan. “I certainly believe we can make some cuts in the administrative area, but those cuts would amount to maybe five additional police officers. I just don’t see that as a viable alternative.”