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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA April 11, 2006 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Mayor; City of Long Beach


The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County, an Inter-League Organization, and constituent Local Leagues as available in communities holding elections on April 11, 2006 and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Liquified Natural Gas, Airport Expansion, Air Quality

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. Do you think the proposed LNG facility should be built in Long Beach Harbor? If elected, what actions would you take to support your position?

Answer from Ronnie "Sidestreet" Rephan:

This project will bring Jobs to Long Beach, i.e. Construction, maintenance, security. Work with ALL concerned to complete this project.

Answer from Douglas "Doug" Drummond:

The proposed Liquid Natural Gas terminal is a mistake and should not be built. There are simply too many safety concerns for the people of the city to make this a viable project.

Even without an Enivironmental Impact Report (EIR), we know that the terminal would have a danger zone that far exceeds its boundaries, jeopardizing the city's downtown population, workers at the Port of Long Beach and the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The Port and the bridge are already considered targets for terrorist attack. The addition of an LNG terminal would just make the area that much more desireable as a target.


2. Should Long Beach airport be expanded? If so, to what degree, and what improvements and enhancements would be essential? Under what circumstances, if any, should the number of available flight slots be increased?

Answer from Douglas "Doug" Drummond:

I support the development of an attractive airport facility that is LIMITED to the needs of a 41-flight agreement. The design should welcome visitors to Long Beach, assure maximum security, provide better access for the physically disabled and allow for the smooth movement of travelers.

Under no circumstances do I support an increase in the number of available flight slots.

Answer from Ronnie "Sidestreet" Rephan:

YES! We need this airport. I don't like driving to LAX or John Wayne. Traffic is heavy enough on our freeway today. WE MUST Expand in order to grow. We can ship goods via Air. We should build parking structures to house 2000 cars away from the eye of the folks around the airport. This way the rental cars will not be seen by the golf complex, i.e. Dallas, Texas


3. What should Long Beach be doing to improve air quality?

Answer from Ronnie "Sidestreet" Rephan:

WE Must Clean up the air in and around the harbor. I drove the streets and I get black soot on my car, boat, and I breathe that stuff. I got it on my clothes and our WHITE tents in the harbor are now black. WE MUST CLEAN THIS UP. There has got to be a better and cleaner method to replace the uses of COAL!

Answer from Douglas "Doug" Drummond:

I promise the environment will be a top priority. With Long Beach's critical issues of the budget, public safety, the airport, infrastructure and others, our local environment is often overlooked. That will not happen during my tenure as Mayor. My complete environmental plan is posted on my Web site at http://www.drummond4mayor.com. Some key points:

  • The establishment of a citywide Environmental Commission. The commission's mandate would be the protection and improvement of the quality of life for all Long Beach residents. The commission would work with regional agencies such as the Southern California Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the federal government's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set local environmental policies.

  • Elimination of diesel vehicles in publicly owned fleets (city, public buses, school equipment, and school buses), and transition into hybrid and other clean fuel vehicles by 2015.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidate answers are presented as submitted except that direct or indirect reference to opponents is not permitted.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.


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Created: May 8, 2006 12:56 PDT
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