Former Long Beach Harbor Commissioner and lifelong Long Beach resident Rich Dines announced his candidacy for the city’s 5th District city council seat early this morning. The seat is currently held by Stacy Mungo, who is running for re-election in 2018.

 

A press release stated Dines chose to run to “restore a voice in city hall for northeast residents of Long Beach.”

 

“Long Beach is facing many challenges today,” Dines stated. “Our police and fire departments are underfunded and spread extremely thin, our streets and parks are in desperate need of repair, we greatly need to rebuild our infrastructure, our neighborhoods are in need of preservation instead of increased density and universal urbanization, and our taxes are amongst the highest in the entire state. I want to help facilitate solutions to these challenges and look forward to working closely with the residents and business owners of Long Beach’s 5th City Council District to do so.”

 

Dines is a port manager at the Los Angeles Harbor, and is responsible for directing rail cargo. Former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster appointed Dines to the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners in 2011. He recently completed a six-year term on the commission. He was not reappointed for a second term by Mayor Robert Garcia.

 

In a press release, Dines stated that while serving on the commission he worked with his fellow boardmembers and port staff to improve efficiencies, create programs and policies to save the port “hundreds of millions of dollars,” create new jobs with the priority of hiring local residents and veterans, set the port on a path to zero emissions operations, and more.

 

“I enjoyed my service and after much thought and encouragement from community and

business leaders, I have now chosen to run for city council, where I feel I can make a difference continuing to work on behalf of our community,” Dines stated.

 

Dines currently serves on California State University, Long Beach’s policy and steering committee; the board of directors for the International Seafarer Center; and the advisory board of the International Trade Academy at Banning High School. He lives with his wife Yolita in the Lakewood Village neighborhood of Long Beach.