Fourth District City Council Forum, Meet the Candidates - Friday Feb. 3rd 2012

The Long Beach Commercial Real Estate Council (LBCREC) will hold a 4th District Candidates Forum on Friday, February 3, 2012 from 7:30AM to 9:00AM. It will be held at The Grand Conference Center, 4101 E. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 90815. The candidates participating in this event are incumbent Councilmember Patrick O'Donnell, Darryl Supernaw and John Watkins.

Patrick O'Donnell is a two- term Councilmember of the 4th District. His name won't be on the ballot, since he is waging a write- in campaign, due to term limits. Councilmember O'Donnell is also an educator.

Daryl Supernaw is also a candidate, and will be participating in this Candidates Forum. He was born and raised in Long Beach. He was past Chair and current member of the Long Beach Sustainable Commission, and has spent years with the Atherton Ditch Project which runs along Atherton Street between Palo Verde Avenue and Fanwood Avenue in East Long Beach by Cal State University, Long Beach.  He is also the founder of the Atherton Corridor Neighborhood Association.

 John Watkins is also a candidate, and is a retired Long Beach Police Sergeant. He has the endorsement of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.  PAC Chairman and LBCREC Board Member Matt Kinley said, “John’s [Watkins] experience in our community as a law enforcement officer, small business owner, as well as working with non-profit organizations, gives him a unique background to be a great and effective City Councilmember.”

 Brian Russell, Past President of the Long Beach Commercial Real Estate Council, will moderate the discussion. Questions to the candidates will focus on the private property rights, land use matters, how to attract investments, create jobs, their opinion on how to make Long Beach more business- friendly,  and their perspectives on these and other important matters.