Bill Grisolia seeks 1st District City Council seat
A second likely contender for the 1st District City Council seat has emerged, assuming of course that Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal is successful in her bid for the 54th Assembly District in the Nov. 4 general election.
Bill Francisco Grisolia, a legal and policy specialist, confirmed for me tonight during the monthly Beer & Politics event at Gallagher's Pub and Grill that recent rumors are true -- he plans to run for Lowenthal's council seat if she goes to the state Assembly.
Grisolia has long been involved in Long Beach organizations, is an advocate for the homeless, is former owner of the Island Sunfish Grill and is a musician. Though he has many local political connections, the 50-year-old Grisolia has only run once for office in Long Beach, when he was among a slew of candidates last year that vied to replace the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald in the 37th Congressional District. That seat, of course, went to Laura Richardson, a former council member turned state Assembly member.
Another unofficially announced candidate for the 1st District council seat is Robert Garcia, who is the communications director for Long Beach City College.
While Garcia and Grisolia's candidacies rely on Lowenthal, a Democrat, winning the Assembly seat, she is considered a virtual shoe-in in the heavily Democratic 54th District.
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Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Telegram, he previously has covered
local and state government and politics in San Diego County, Mexico
and his home state of Kansas.
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Karen Robes came to work for the Press-
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She also writes Eye on Redevelopment, a monthly column that
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If you wish to meet candidates who are running in this election join us at the Long Beach Dairy and Creamery, Saturday Oct 11th between 1:00p and 4:00p for "Teatime and Taxes". This will be an open one on one discussion regarding ballot issues and candidacy. Mayor Foster, State Sen. Alan Lowenthal,Mayor Jim Dear, Assemblymember Warren Furutani, former Mayor Eunice Sato and many others will be there. The media is invited as well as advocates from accross the city.
Congratulations to both potential candidates in the 1st District and good luck with your campaigns.
GOD! I hope Garcia loses miserably. He is a pompous ****.