Long Beach Chamber Supports Instant Runoff Voting Proposal

August 26, 2009
For Immediate Release

Contact:
Randy Gordon
President/CEO
(562) 843-0945

The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce announces its support of the proposed Instant Runoff Voting proposal to be considered by the Long Beach City Council.

Instant Runoff Voting elects officeholders with a majority of the vote in a single election thereby eliminating the need for a second-round runoff election or primary election. Voters rank the candidates in order of their
preference — first choice, second choice, third choice — and if their first choice cannot win, their vote goes to their second choice candidate as their “runoff” choice. Voters are liberated to vote for the candidates they
really like, instead of worrying about “spoilers” or having to choose the “lesser of two evils.”

“In 2006, Long Beach taxpayers paid a total of $2.5 million for an April primary election and a June runoff election,” stated Randy Gordon, President and CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “If IRV had been used then, over $1.3 million of precious tax dollars would have been saved,” continued Gordon.

“I believe Instant Runoff Voting represents a more effective way to make every citizen’s vote count and at the same time reduce the fiscal impact of costly elections on Long Beach,” stated Second District City Councilmember Suja Lowenthal. “I thank the Long Beach Chamber for joining me in supporting a proposal that brings election reform to our great City,” continued Councilmember Lowenthal.

“Instant Runoff Voting is an innovative idea that saves taxpayer dollars and has been tested in other cities,” stated Councilmember Gary DeLong. “I too welcome the Long Beach Chamber’s support and look forward to working with the business community and City Clerk Larry Herrera to save over $1 million in the 2012 elections alone,” continued Councilmember DeLong.

Councilmembers Suja Lowenthal, Gary DeLong Robert Garcia, and Val Lerch have already endorsed IRV, along with Long Beach City College Trustee Mark Bowen.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,” said Gautam Dutta of New America Foundation. “We thank the board for their thoughtful consideration,” he added. The New America Foundation is the major proponent of the IRV proposal and responsible for educating communities across California of the impacts of such a proposal.

To bring IRV to Long Beach, voters need to approve an amendment to the City Charter. For this to happen, a majority of the nine-person City Council must first approve legislation to put IRV on the ballot.

The Chamber also urges all interested people to attend the Long Beach Town Hall on Instant Runoff Voting hosted by Councilmember Suja Lowenthal and the New America Foundation from 5:30pm to 7:00pm on September 29, 2009 in the Long Beach City Council Chambers, 333 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA
90802.

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