Writing Shotgun

REYES URANGA WILL SEEK THREE-PEAT WITH WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN

Dave WielengaWed. October 28
 

Termed-out 7th district councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga will run a write-in campaign for re-election to what would be a third four-year term, The District Weekly  has learned.

“My heart has always been in the 7th district, but I had decided not to run again because of Long Beach’s two-term limit—until things changed,” Reyes Uranga said in a Tuesday morning phone call.

The thing that changed was the candidacy of her husband, Roberto Uranga, which suddenly ended on Oct. 15 when he told a group of supporters that he was withdrawing from the race, citing his Oct. 10 election as Vice Chair of the nationwide Association of Community College Trustees.

“When Roberto withdrew I received a lot of calls from the community to do a write-in run,” said Reyes Uranga. “That had never entered my mind because it is extremely difficult, but there are still huge things I’d still like to accomplish and so I’m going to try.”

Reyes Uranga said that most of those things are a continuation of the work she has been doing.

“The impacts of port pollution, the expansion of the railroad and the expansion of the 710 freeway are at critical points,” she said. “We’re in the middle of the battle and I don’t feel I should leave right now.”

Reyes Uranga is joining a field that currently includes housing activist Jack Smith and assistant city auditor James Johnson.

She is the second city councilmember undertaking a write-in campaign in next April’s election, joining Val Lerch in the 9th district.

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  • lbresident
    wake up 7th district. do not vote for uranga. The article below is chilling. And there is no bigger example of the problem than Tonia Uranga.

    http://www.lbreport.com/editorial/nov09/ediam.htm
  • CA supporter
    Ideological differences aside, Tonia is a steady hand in turbulent times. She will hit the ground running and is experienced and requires no on-the-job training. Even though a write in campaign is very difficult, Tonia enters the race as a tier one candidate and with great name recognition, an on-the ground operation, practical experience and a fundraising ability that few others will be able to match. Elections are generally about change vs. status quo. Given the current crisis, and absent some scandal or significant political upheaval, the voters will vote for the status quo. My guess is that while a few of the usual suspects will post their recriminations and line up to call for change, most reasonable people know that in this time of crisis, stable and experienced leaders are the best choice for the city. I expect the voters to ‘stay the course’ and not risk an unknown and untested candidate in this difficult economic climate.
  • lbresident
    To argue that Tonia is best because of her experience requires that you believe she had led the district and city well over the last 8 years. Are you making that case? In my mind there is much more risk if we continue down the current path. Tonia is a person that actually believes we should take hotel bed taxes and create a low income housing fund instead of using that money for more police and infrastructure. She is a person that believes we should continue the existing pension structure for city employees (most who do not live in Long Beach) that is destroying our budget and ability to deliver basic core city services. She believes that hotel workers should unionize. Do you know that we are about to lose the Hotel Sierra development at the Pike due to union influence. My goodness, how can you argue status quo when status quo means failing budget, failing infrastructure, not enough police, and most importantly placing employee and union interests over residents? This is not ideology. This is common sense.
  • CA supporter
    I would hope there would be a campaign on issues such as hotel unionization, pension reform and affordable housing, etc.. Let the informed voters decide on these issues. I suspect that the results in the 7th district may not be what you would hope they would be.

    It is much more likely that the campaign will not turn on these issues, but on experience and change vs. status quo candidates. The character and qualifications of the candidates often trumps specific policy positions in times like this.

    My point is that the policy differences you have with Tonia will not matter in the end. I do not believe that the issues you care so much about are compelling enough to the average voter to risk their electing an untested and inexperienced candidate.

    The voters in the impoverished 7th district are different than the voters in the Carroll Park and Belmont Heights neighborhoods. Anti-poor people arguments and complex pension financing discussions will not convince most of the voters in the 7th district to elect an untested and unknown change candidate. These voters know Tonia's positions and have reelected her before. It will take much more than policy differences to motivate a movement for change in this economic climate.
  • lbresident
    I actually agree with what you just said (except for the anti poor part which I am not). It's a shame though. The residents of the 7th need to educate themselves.
  • sickofhearingyou
    You know, LBResident, I have no idea as to where the hell you live. but you certainly give your opinion on anything that is not "pro city". My GOoDness, who the hell do you know that does as much of there homework as these three gals do, Schipske, Uranago and Gabielich. They are not going to be bought off so they may live again to fight for another, but higher political office--unlike some on this council and I cannot agree with your harangue. Listen to them, they are not lock-step in this community with the money, they are the voice of the often voiceless, those that cannot speak for themselves b/c they are too busy earning their minimum wage--you know 30% of LB. They are the ones being lifted up by the "terrific vision we have about the future of Long Beach. Go suck a sour grape for awhile, it suits your temperment.
  • lbresident
    I love Long Beach. It has a lot to offer. But like all cities it can be better. I don't think Ms. Uranga advocates for policies that help the city. To say she isn't bought off is insane. Nobody is more owned by the unions that Ms. Uranga. Bought and paid for 10 times over.

    And it's ridiculous to lump Uranga in with Rae and Gerrie. Rae and Gerrie support homeowners and residents. Gerrie led the sawcutting program for sidewalks. Rae helped revitalize the Bixby Knolls business corridor and she had the guts to vote against the pay raise for employees a year or so ago. Those are just a couple of examples. They arent perfect and I don't always agree with the two of them, but they are head and shoulders better than Uranga. Tonia's top concerns by a mile are city employees and unions. And she doesn't hide it.

    So whether you're tired of hearing from me or not, I am free to post my opinion. Thanks for reading.
  • Dan
    This woman is an idiot. Name a piece of legislation she has created and passed. Take a look at her district, its a disaster for the people in the districa and the City of Long Beach.

    Surely that district has a professional, well educated individual who is capable of constructive conversation, puts forth a well thought agenda and has the best interest of everyone at heart.

    There is no reason not to have a well educated person guide your district.
  • lbresident
    well part of that is sort of my point. people that like her say she is a good woman, she supports working people, blah blah blah. But nobody can name a single thing she has actually accomplished to help her district. she helps union employees, period. Even the recent storm drain improvement in her district only came because of the federal stimulus package. she had 8 years to fight for the improvement but didn't. she chose employee pensions, social services like translating council meetings, and low income housing over fixing the flooding problem. people should listen to her during council meetings. she is always about the employees. she says quote "they are her family". she could care less about the hard working residents if they don't work for a union or the city.
  • TheCommish
    Tonia Reyes Uranga has worked hard to be a voice for those without one. Her district has a variety of constituents, including people at the poverty level. The constant criticism of providing “Unneeded social services" is so off base there's no where to start refuting this. And no point with those who view the world from their place of comfort and privilege. Why not take a break from posting these negative and tiresome rants and take a tour a positive environment in the Seventh District: The Villages at Cabrillo – the Navy Housing reuse project that is a modern, clean, safe environment for 1,000 people – including children who have experienced homelessness. Many folks move on to more permanent housing and jobs because they’ve been given this opportunity to get their lives together. And, over half of the residents are part of USVets – men who served this country – and you. I guess they should "go back where they came from" too. Oh, that would be here.
  • 2nd District Resident
    Councilmember Reyes Uranga has been a defender of the working class, a friend to the LGBT community and a supporter of environmental reform. I love that she is not afraid to call anyone, including the Mayor, on the carpet. We need her strong leadership. When she wins the write in campaign - it will be the will of the people, to say otherwise is ridiculous.
  • lbresident
    She has been a friend to the city employee...unfortunately not to the homeowners and residents.
  • Dave in Alamitos Beach
    Is there any meaningful way to distinguish between City employees and City residents? I really wish there was because I feel the employees are being looked after, but not all the residents...
  • Four more years !
    Tonia has been a faithful friend to the Coastal Preservation Community, she has been seen at Los Cerritos Land Trust General meetings, she supports meaningful but reasonable Breakwater reconfiguration, she has been on the right side of many key votes, she was keen on shining light on DeLong's Buddy Bailout Amerigas Exchange, the February Gift of Public Funds allegations, and so much more.

    What a nice lady who never caved in to the Gang of 5 . She has a wonderful family as well and is a true asset to her District, her constituents, and this town.

    Full GLOWING Coastal Endorsement. Plus Money, Plus Time, Plus Endorsements from friends.

    4 more years !!

    Viva Reyes Uranga !! And high 5's to Ray Pok !! And Roberto !!!

    Awesome news ! Thanks Uber Dave !
  • lbresident
    Clearly you'd vote for anyone as long as they pretend to like birds.
  • howardx
    so since her husband wont be running for her position its ok for her to ignore the will of the voters when they enacted term limits? no to termed out write-ins and no to anymore political dynasties in long beach.
  • Mr X. The very same Section of our Charter that establishes term limits (214) also permits certain termed out officials to run as write-in candidates. *Both* aspects of our Charter are, indeed, "the will of the voters".
  • howardx
    i wonder if thats actually the case john, im sure it wasnt sold to the voters that way. "lets enact term limits and oh yeah we're leaving a loophole so there are actually no term limits"
  • Mr. X: You and I could no doubt author several War & Peace-sized novels (or perhaps one average-sized TDW comment of mine) crammed full of legislation that has passed based soley upon how it was "sold to the voters". But you know what? The voters need to learn to be better buyers.

    But like it or don't, voters have a right to write-in a candidate of their choice and termed-out Mayors and Councilmembers have a right to run as write-in candidates.

    Here's an idea...do away with term limits altogether and allow voters to keep whomever they want in office and toss out whomever they don't want in office...oh wait, that would mean voters might actually have to assume some responsibility for their decisions at the polls wouldn't it?

    Why, we can't have that!
  • howardx
    i know the law allows it, but the loophole violates the spirit of the thing. im not sure i think term limits allow the voters to avoid responsibility, i think these limits get enacted when the voters feel their elected officials no longer need to be responsive to them due to party machines, incumbency protection rackets and the like.

    do you have any thoughts on her decision to go write in only after her husband dropped out?
  • Mr. X: If more people took their responsibility to vote intelligently more seiously, we wouldn't NEED term limits because intelligent votes would serve the same purpose.

    Suppose Mr. DeLong is voted out next time and his replacement proves to be the very best Council member the 3rd District has ever seen. Suppose he or she has some long term solutions to many of the chronic challenges in the District...solutions that will take far longer than 8 years to complete successfully, shouldn't the voters be able to keep that person in office if that's truly what they desire?

    I say they should. But the only way to do that given current term limits legislation is to write that person in so they can continue to represent us as the majority of voters truly prefer.

    Conversely, if more people took their responsibility to vote intelligently more seriously we wouldn't need to rely on term limits legislation to be rid of a bad legislator, we would either have them Recalled mid-term if that proved necessary or, at the very least, simply vote them out during the next election.

    Ultimately the People, as represented by a majority of voters, should decide who they want to represent them and for how long.

    Tonia has just as much right to run a write-in campaign as did Bev and does Val. But whether she succeeds in her campaign is ultimately up to the voters and I think that's precisely as it should be.
  • howardx
    i disagree on a number of points but dont have time to go into it now.
  • HighHat
    If "the voters" send her back to council as a write-in isn't that their "will?" You make no sense. Term limits are stupid and anti-democratic.
  • howardx
    i dont think she should have the choice, term limits are the law and this loophole violates the spirit of what was intended. let someone else have a chance to serve. i find it interesting that she only decided to become a write in candidate after her husband dropped out, almost like they feel that seat belongs to them. thats whats undemocratic here my friend.
  • lbresident
    anyone but her...
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