Democratic Club
by Mary Larson
LW contributor
The last time Leisure World residents living in Seal Beach City Council District 5 voted for their representative on the council, there was only one name on the ballot. In this year’s upcoming General Election, four candidates—three men and one woman—are running to represent District 5, which covers a major portion of Leisure World. Sandra Massa-Lavitt, the District 5 councilwoman for the last eight years, will be termed-out at the end of 2022.
Residents should keep in mind that the election of Seal Beach City Council members is nonpartisan, as are a number of other races listed on their ballot.
Candidate for City Council Mariann Klinger has direct experience dealing with a number of critical issues facing the city. Appointed by Massa-Lavitt, she has served as a member of the city’s Planning Commission for the past seven years. She also covered city and county government for 20 years as a newspaper reporter and editor. Klinger also worked as part of Leisure World’s security staff for 10 years.
Candidate Michael Mc-Grorty identifies himself as a former federal and private investigator. His primary concern appears to be how Seal Beach will respond to the State in order to be in compliance with California laws. This includes the city’s requirement to prepare a new housing element.
Since 1969, California has required that all local governments (cities and counties) adequately plan to meet the housing needs of everyone in the community. Local governments meet this requirement by adopting housing plans as part of their general plan. Seal Beach is one of over 100 Southern California cities still reworking portions of their housing element. These documents are designed to cover how local communities plan to meet state-mandated home building goals by 2030 in order to avoid possible sanctions.
Candidate John Rich has expressed the view that making housing more affordable includes making it denser. He feels this can be done with highrises and smaller units, and with creative finance arrangements.
Candidate Nathan Steele’s views are probably best known to LW voters by reading the paid-for partisan ads he has placed in Leisure World’s weekly newspaper.
To find more information about a City Council candidate’s position on other issues, people can call (562) 296-8521. Anyone with access to the Internet can download all of the candidates’ responses to questions posed by news outlets such as the Seal Beach Sun. Google: “The Sun Seal Beach 2022 City Council candidates” or find other similar sites.
Democrats and supporters can also call (562) 296-8521 or email sblwdemocraticclub@gmail.com for assistance in the voting process. Information will also be available at the club’s Hospitality and Information Booth. The booth will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse 6 parking lot until after the election.
