Election 2022: Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia endorses Rex Richardson to succeed him on Nov. 8

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia has endorsed Vice Mayor Rex Richardson as his succesor during the Nov. 8 runoff.

Garcia — who is finishing out the final months of his eight-year mayoral tenure and campaigning for Congress — backed Richardson to replace him as Long Beach’s top elected leader on Friday morning, Sept. 23.

Richardson, the Ninth District councilman, represents North Long Beach and has been elected twice by his council colleagues to serve as vice mayor. His mayoral opponent is Councilwoman Suzie Price, who represents the Third District in Southeast Long Beach.

“I’ve worked with Vice Mayor Richardson for the last eight years — I’ve seen up close his ability to bring people together, to be collaborative, and to deliver results across the city and for his own community,” Garcia said in a Thursday, Sept. 22, interview. “He’s put together an incredible, diverse coalition that will represent all of Long Beach in all parts of the city, and I’m proud to join all the organizations that are coming together to support Vice Mayor Richardson.”

Richardson has also secured endorsements from Planned Parenthood, the California Democratic Party, several other elected officials and local leaders, and labor unions.

Garcia, by all accounts, is popular in Long Beach. After winning a tight 2014 election during his inaugural mayoral campaign, he went on to dominate the 2018 race, winning a second term with nearly 79% of the vote. In June, Garcia outpaced seven other congressional candidates during the primary; he beat second place John Briscoe — his Republican opponent in the runoff to represent California’s newly drawn 42nd District — by more than 20.5 percentage points.

During that close 2014 mayoral campaign, meanwhile, Garcia received a boost when then-Mayor Bob Foster endorsed him; Garcia, at the time, was vice mayor — and is now looking to give his lieutenant a similar boost.

“I’m honored to have Mayor Robert Garcia’s endorsement and am grateful for his confidence in my ability to lead the city of Long Beach,” Richardson said in a Friday statement. “With Mayor Garcia’s support, I will continue delivering results for Long Beach families as our next Mayor.”

Price’s campaign is supported by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Long Beach Police Officers Association, the Los Angeles County Business Federation, and dozens of local and community leaders, according to her website.

Price’s campaign manager, Orrin Evans, did not comment on Garcia’s endorsement, but he did tout the councilwoman as the city’s best choice for mayor.

“Long Beach needs a mayor with her eyes on Long Beach,” Evans said in a Friday morning statement. “With a $25 million annual deficit, an increase in homelessness, an increase in crime, and families struggling to pay their bills, it’s time to set politics aside and get to work. Our campaign looks forward to delivering that message over the course of the next six weeks.”

The pair of councilmembers beat out four other candidates in the statewide primary election on June 7.

Richardson secured a little more than 44% of the vote in the June primary and Price received just under 37%, according to the LA County registrar.

While Richardson came out on top, he did not get the majority of votes necessary to win outright, sending him and Price to the November runoff.

Both candidates have centered their campaigns on addressing public safety, housing, homelessness, economic development, and climate.

Price — who also serves as a chief assistant district attorney in Orange County — would increase investments in the Long Beach Police Department by increasing the rank-and-file staffing numbers, incentivizing new officers to join and veterans to stay in the force, and prioritizing police accountability, according to her campaign website.

“Long Beach does not have sufficient resources to address the spike in both violent and property crimes across the city,” the mayoral hopeful’s website says. “A 20-year prosecutor and a seven-year City Councilmember, Suzie (Price) has spent her career leading on solutions to keep us safe.”

The vice mayor’s website, meanwhile, also says he would increase Long Beach’s police and firefighter reserves — while bolstering social service investments in high-crime areas.

“Research shows that communities are safer when residents have access to stable jobs, high-quality schools and social services, and clean and vibrant public spaces,” Richardson’s campaign site says. “The Long Beach neighborhoods that have a history of higher crime too often have lacked community investments, resources, and services.”

Long Beach residents will make the final say on which candidate will succeed Garcia on Election Day, Nov. 8. Vote-by-mail ballots are expected to be mailed by Oct. 10 — and the last day to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 24.

For voter information — including how to register — visit lavote.gov.

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Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach — including local government, politics, and the environment. Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze’s lead city hall reporter. Hutchings holds a B.A. in communication and M.S. in journalism from the University of Southern California.