Runoff Appears Likely for Mayor of Long Beach

A termed-out incumbent who ran a longshot write-in campaign and the vice mayor appeared headed toward a mayoral runoff election late Tuesday in Long Beach, California’s fifth-largest city.

Dan Baker, a Long Beach councilman of two years, appeared slightly ahead with 30% of the vote in early absentee ballot counting. Beverly O’Neill, the mayor of eight years whose name could not appear on the ballot because of term limits, was running a close second with 29%. Tagging behind them were Councilman Ray Grabinski; Norm Ryan, who wrote a successful utility tax reduction proposition; coach Bob Livingstone; police Corp. John Stolp; and contractor David Wong.

Concerns about growth echoed throughout the 13 other city elections in Los Angeles County.

Voters in Long Beach, a city of 461,000, passed in 1994 a two-term limit that allows for a write-in candidate.

Also up for grabs were five of the city’s nine council district seats and the post of city prosecutor. (The city attorney and city auditor were running unopposed for reelection).

The Long Beach mayor doesn’t vote but has veto power and considerable influence in this port city.

The mayor makes all commission appointments--the City Council can only reject them, not make them--including coveted appointments to the Harbor Commission.

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles share a single basin which is the busiest in the nation and which drives the economies of numerous smaller cities in southeast L.A. County.

In Malibu, Sharon Barovsky and John Wall were in the lead for two of the city’s council seats.

In South Pasadena, voters appeared headed toward passing Measure U, a renewal of the 5% utility user’s tax, with 63.7% of absentee ballots in favor.

LAX Expansion Major Issue in El Segundo

In El Segundo, the possible LAX expansion remained a major issue in Tuesday’s election for two council seats. Candidates William V. Wegner and Spencer Shakstad expressed a willingness to negotiate with expansion project planners during the campaign, while incumbents Kelly McDowell and John Gaines opposed expansion. Early results were not available.

In Santa Clarita--where growth was a campaign issue in the city where the population is expected to swell by 50,000 over the next 20 years--three of fivecouncil seats were up for grabs. Incumbent Frank Ferry, who calls himself “The Road Warrior” because of his emphasis on road improvements, appeared to be leading, with Laurene Weste in second place, trailed by Marsha McLean and Jan Heidt.

In Culver City, residents were voting for city clerk and two council seats.

*

Liz F. Kay and Sandra Murillo contributed to this report.