A look at Long Beach City Council choices heading into Tuesday's election

Don’t forget to vote, Long Beach.

Races on Tuesday will determine who sits on the decision-making body for the 2nd District in the coastal area of downtown and Alamitos Beach area, the 6th District in Central Long Beach and 8th District in Bixby Knolls and North Long Beach.

2nd Council District

The Port of Long Beach, Ocean Boulevard corridor, East Village Arts District and coastal neighborhoods as far east as the Redondo Avenue are all part of the 2nd District.

No matter who wins the election, the 2nd District is guaranteed a new representative since two-term councilwoman Suja Lowenthal has decided not to seek reelection after two terms in office.<URL destination="http://www.presstelegram.com/govement-and-politics/20160315/long-beach-city-council-election-candidates-in-district-2-stake-out-differences">

Three candidates are ruing</URL> for the chance to be the district’s next representative: Gaica Interiors owner Joen Gaica has adopted the role of the pro-business candidate in the race; ITO solutions owner Eric Gray has pitched himself as the candidate who can find common ground between business and labor interests; and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy policy director Jeaine Pearce is portraying herself as the one who has the political experience and the ability to keep City Hall open to constituents.

6th Council District

The 6th Council District include area around Long Beach Poly, as well as neighborhoods within the city’s Wrigley and Cambodia Town Districts. In a sense, the district’s territory encompasses the heart of Long Beach but it’s also home to neighborhoods that are dealing with more than their fair share of crime and poverty.

There are four candidates in the race: Incumbent Councilman Dee Andrews is ruing for a third term as a write-in candidate, touting achievements such events as the 2014 opening of the Chittick Field Sports Complex and recent openings of businesses like Tierra Mia Coffee; Robert Harmon, who owns a medical device company called Harmony Medical - Swanzus, who entered the race after developing a plan for promoting Cambodia Town as a cultural destination; Erik Miller, who works as community relations director for the nonprofit Operation Jump Start, who is ruing on a bid to focus on crime prevention efforts; and Josephine Villasenor, partner at Pinata Fiesta Party Supply & Rentals who has served with the city’s Community Emergency Response Team and is also ruing on a safety-focused platform.

8th Council District

Long Beach’s 8th Council District includes Bixby Knolls, Los Cerritos and part of the neighborhoods known as North Long Beach.

Councilman Al Austin, who is seeing a second term, faces two challengers: Businessman Wesley Tubow and business manager Laurie Angel.

The 8th District exists under the flight path for aircraft using Long Beach Airport and all three candidates have expressed skepticism or opposition to the prospect of inteational flights at the airport.

Angel is employed as a business manager at Cal State Long Beach and is campaigning as a fiscal conservative with the necessary experience to make budgetary decisions;

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Austin, the incumbent, has said improved business conditions in the Bixby Knolls area are one sign that his term has been successful and his plans for an additional term include the further development of Davenport Park; and Tubow, chief executive of metals processing firm EME, Inc. has positioned himself as a pro-business candidate and has said City Hall officials should be attempting to improve the city’s financial condition by attracting business rather than asking voters to accept a 10-year sales tax hike on June 7, the day of the next election for Long Beach’s electorate.