Long Beach mayors past and present to share their stories

Long Beach has had a wide variety of mayors through the years: the venerable and ever-present Tom Clark, who first led the city in 1975 and spent 30 years on the City Council; the diminuitive but strong-willed Eunice Sato; the calm and trail-blazing Ernie Kell; the motherly Beverly O'Neill; the all-business current Mayor Bob Foster.

Starting this week, the public will get a chance to hear from each of the city's five living mayors about their personal stories, their politics and their thoughts on Long Beach's progress during an on-going series presented by the Historical Society of Long Beach.

"The Long Beach Mayors Oral History Series" will take place over the next several weeks. Each mayor will be interviewed by current and former council members and other politicians. It should be an enlightening event at which to hear a unique perspective on Long Beach's political history. The project is made possible in part by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation.

Admission will be $10 at the door for non-Historical Society members. Admission for members and students is free. All events of the series will begin at 7 p.m. and will be conducted in the Historical Society's main gallery at 4260 Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls. For more information, call 562-424-2220.

Here's the schedule:

This Thursday (June 25) -- Mayor Tom Clark (served 1975-1980 and 1982-1984), interviewed by Councilwoman Rae Gabelich.

July 2 -- Mayor Eunice Sato (served 1980-1982), interviewed by former councilwoman Doris Topsy-Elvord.

July 9 -- Mayor Ernie Kell (served from 1984-1994), interviewed by former councilman Evan Braude.

July 30 -- Mayor Beverly O'Neill (served from 1994-2006), interviewed by Betty Karnette, former member of the state Senate and Assembly.

TBA -- Mayor Bob Foster (serving 2006-present).