By Zamna Avila, Assistant Editor – June 17, 2013
On June 17, Vice Mayor Robert Garcia announced his candidacy for mayor of Long Beach.
The news came days after Mayor Bob Foster announced he was not running for re-election. Garcia represents the District 1, which includes large areas of downtown and parts of thePort of Long Beach.
When elected on April 13, 2009, to fill the seat vacated byBonnie Lowenthal, Garcia, 35, became the youngest person and the first openly-gayLatino elected to the Long Beach City Council.
Garcia is known for his support of using digital technology, as well as for his outspoken support of LGBTrights.
Vying for the mayoral seat is Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, also openly-gay. Schipske announced her candidacy March 21.
In 2006, Gerrie was elected to the Long Beach City Council and in 2010 was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second term.
Schipske is known for her support of government transparency, as well as her outspoken city policy opinions within her blog, where she often presents constituents with government documents.