Library Measures A and B proponents claim victory in Huntington Beach
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Amanda Galath has frequently taken her children, ages 12 and 14, to the Huntington Beach Central Library.
The Huntington Beach resident followed the campaign for Measures A and B closely, but a turning point came when signs asking residents to “Protect Our Kids From Porn” with a “no” vote popped up on streets near local schools on the Monday after Easter.
Update:
1:58 p.m. June 11, 2025This story was updated with quotes and additional information about the election results.
“I was so caught off guard and really infuriated that I was forced to have a conversation with my school-aged kids that I wasn’t ready to have,” Galath said. “That’s what lit the fire.”
A passionate campaign concluded with special election day Tuesday. Measures A and B appear on track for victory in Huntington Beach, with advocates calling that a win for the city’s public library system.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Measure A had 30,407 votes for (58.96%) and 21,169 votes against (41.04%) on the Orange County Registrar of Voters website. The measure would repeal a parent/guardian children’s book review board of up to 21 members, appointed by the Huntington Beach City Council, which could relocate books deemed offensive to a restricted area while also stopping new children’s books from entering the collection if they didn’t meet “community standards.”
The board’s decisions would have been final.
A Measure A victory would leave policies for the selection and use of library materials in the hands of the city’s director of community and library services.
Measure B had 31,409 “yes” votes (60.95%), and 20,120 “no” votes (39.05%). That measure would require both the council and a majority of Surf City voters to approve any outsourcing of library operations. The council had explored doing so last year before a bid was pulled.
The next update was scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m on the registrar’s website, after print deadlines.
A statement from Protect Huntington Beach on Wednesday morning thanked hundreds of volunteers who worked on the Vote Yes campaign.
“The voters in Huntington Beach made it clear that government overreach on the operations of the Huntington Beach Public Libraries was unacceptable,” the statement reads, in part. “Our public libraries do matter and voters, across party lines, overwhelmingly said so with their vote. Let us use this opportunity to find ways to work together to hold our elected officials accountable. Thank you, Huntington Beach, for supporting democracy.”
The measures were also supported by a group called Our Library Matters.
Proponents of the measures have largely sought no change in the way library operations have been traditionally handled, saying parents deserve the chance to make choices for their children instead of a politically appointed group.
Members of the current council have urged voters to vote “no” on both measures, particularly Chad Williams, a youth pastor who started a Political Action Committee against them. They have said the parent board encourages community involvement and limits sexually explicit or pornographic material, while outsourcing could be considered as a money-saver for a city that is strapped financially.
Williams posted a message of concession on social media Tuesday night, congratulating the “Yes on A and B” advocates.
“I can sincerely admire how hard you worked and stuck together as a united front,” Williams wrote. “Your zeal, tenacity and whatever-it-takes mentality paid off, undeniably, and I can commend that.”
Laura Costelloe, a former Huntington Beach Community & Library Services commission member, said she considers herself middle-of-the-road politically but advocated for “yes” votes on both measures.
“If a book is deemed inappropriate, we can move it, but why try to deconstruct something that for 100 years has been so beloved by our community?” she said. “I haven’t been able to wrap my head around that.”
Lindsay Klick, a Huntington Beach resident and Orange County children’s librarian, said she felt that council members and other “No on A & B” advocates overplayed their hand during the campaign.
“They sort of made clear that this was a religious attack on the library, a politically motivated attack, and it all backfired,” she said. “I’m just proud of Huntington Beach parents and busy people for paying attention.”
Huntington Beach Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark has led the charge on restricting books deemed “obscene.” She previously challenged the placement of the book “Gender Queer” in the children’s section, though not without a fight from the former library director, she said Wednesday.
“I remain 100% committed to protecting our children from these materials,” Van Der Mark said.
But Tru Olson, a Huntington Beach resident who identifies as transgender and voted “yes” on both measures, said they felt personally attacked during the campaign.
“It’s just incredibly hurtful to see people in 2025 telling me that I harm children,” said Olson, who has lived in Surf City for about four years and in the county for more than two decades. “I think the city council overstepped their mandate, and I hope that’s the message they get, that they need to dial that back.”
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