Long Beach Elects Former College President as Mayor

In a relatively close contest, Long Beach voters elected a first-time politician to the mayor’s office Tuesday, giving former community college president Beverly O’Neill the nod over two-term City Councilman Ray Grabinski.

City voters also elected their first Latina to the City Council, former school board member Jenny Oropeza, and may have elected two--if Tonia Reyes Uranga’s 29-vote lead over her challenger holds up. An undetermined number of absentee and other ballots have yet to be counted.

The Long Beach election, which also saw veteran Councilman Warren Harwood ousted in favor of a new challenger, was one of a handful of municipal elections held throughout the county.

In Santa Monica, a $27.1-million plan to revamp the Civic Center complex won voter approval by a surprisingly wide margin of more than 60%. The vote allows the city to convert decades-old parking lots and other property into parks, ponds, walkways and affordable housing.

The decision on ballot measures D and E also gave a green light to RAND Corp., Santa Monica’s third-largest private employer, to expand the company’s nearby headquarters and develop other properties. Opponents contended that the massive renovation would cost too much and cause traffic bottlenecks and environmental problems.

In Long Beach, O’Neill, 63, will replace Mayor Ernie Kell, the city’s only mayor since voters made the job full-time in 1988. Kell ran fifth among 13 candidates in the city’s April primary.

O’Neill, who narrowly led Grabinski in the primary, defeated him in Tuesday’s runoff 53% to 47%

Meanwhile, a measure to reform campaign financing passed by a healthy margin. Modeled after a similar reform in Los Angeles, Long Beach’s Proposition M will offer matching campaign money to candidates who agree to limit spending.

One important difference in Long Beach’s reform, backers said, is that lawmakers closed a loophole that allowed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Michael Woo to accept city campaign money in 1992 and then legally exceed spending limits.

“This is terrific,” said Councilman Alan Lowenthal, who introduced the measure that could cost taxpayers $1 million every four years. “This means that nobody can buy an election here.”

Long Beach may see a much-changed City Council after new members are sworn in July 19. Currently, there are eight white males and one black female on the council. But if Uranga’s slim lead over opponent Mike Donelon holds up, the council will include three minority women.