Palacio Podcast
Al Austin: Incumbent Seeking Re-Election for City Council District 8
Al Austin confidently calls himself on his campaign website, “A regional leader” and a “problem solver.” Eighth District incumbent Councilmember Austin is seeking his third term after first being elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. The Councilmember says that although there’s been “great work over the last eight years”, there is still more to be done.
“We have great momentum in this community. We have great synergy with our business districts, our local businesses, our community organizations, and our neighborhoods.”
Councilmember Al Austin predicts what comes after re-election.
“I know for a fact that I will continue that momentum over the next four years.”
Al Austin is facing two opponents in the March 3rd election, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk and Juan Ovalle.
PalacioMagazine.com interviewed City Council candidates for Districts 2, 6, and 8. We asked each candidate the same three questions with follow-ups for clarification and more in-depth information.
- Why are you running?
- What is your vision for the District?
- Name and discuss two or three Policy issues
PalacioMagazine.com sat down with District 8 incumbent Al Austin to get his answers to these questions.
More on Al Austin
“For well over a decade, Al Austin II has been a regional leader for working families, delivering results on transportation, economic development, and sustainable planning.
A former aerospace worker, legislative staffer, and now representative for public employees who serves on the professional staff for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Al earned the trust of his neighbors in Long Beach and was elected to the City Council in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. As he and his wife, Daysha, raised their two sons in Uptown Long Beach, Al has brought together community members, unions, and local small businesses to get things done that improve quality of life for residents across the region while protecting taxpayer dollars.
Al represented Long Beach on the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, which consists of 27 cities in Southeast Los Angeles County, focusing on improving transportation, air quality, housing, and economic development. As President of the Council of Governments, he was at the forefront of regional improvement including the I-710 Corridor Project, the Climate Action Planning Framework, and regional approaches to address homelessness. Al also served on the League of California Cities Board of Directors.
In Long Beach, Al serves as Chair of the City Council’s State Legislation Committee and serves on the Budget Oversight, Public Safety, Housing and Neighborhoods, and I-710 Oversight Committees. He took the lead to start several city programs like the annual Back to School Summer Blast that provides free backpacks and school supplies to more than 1,000 local kids and the “Share Your Heart, Share Your Home” event which promotes fostering and adoption.
Al established a Senior Advisory Committee and worked with them to establish an innovative program to provide free enrichment activities for hundreds of seniors at the Expo Arts Center twice a week. He’s made a priority of developing new parks and open space in underserved communities, including C. David Molina Park, the second phase of “Pops” Davenport Park, and the recent opening of the new DeForest Wetlands, 34 acres of trails and open space along the LA River.
On the City Council, Al’s been a leader in authoring and passing government reform measures to increase transparency, establishing an ethics commission and preventing politicians from drawing their own district lines. And he’s worked to take guns out of the hands of dangerous domestic abusers, fought to increase funding for parks and open spaces, and secured resources to address the homelessness crisis.” Source: Campaign website
For more information on Councilmember Al Austin, visit his campaign website HERE.
More on the March 3, 2020 Election
- Feb 03, 2020-Feb 25, 2020: Vote by Mail — First and last day to apply. VBM Applications may be submitted between these dates (both dates inclusive). Applications received prior to the 29th day preceding the election will be kept and processed during this period.
- Feb 18, 2020: Last day to register to vote.
- Feb 22, 2020-Mar 03, 2020: Vote Centers Voting Period. Vote Centers open beginning 10 days prior to the election day.
- Mar 03, 2020: Election Day
Visit the Long Beach City Clerk website for more information on the candidates and ballot measures.
