Former Murrieta Mayor Seeks Re-election Tuesday

Former Murrieta Mayor Alan Long will attempt to win a second term on the city council in Tuesday’s election -- even as he contends with a felony driving-under-the-influence charge that precipitated his resignation.

Long, 44, is one of two incumbents competing in a field of nine candidates. Three council seats, including Long’s, are up for grabs.

The longtime Anaheim firefighter has said little publicly since his Oct. 20 resignation, which occurred four days after he was arrested for crashing his pickup truck into a car occupied by four cheerleaders from Murrieta Valley High School. Two suffered major injuries.

According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, the ex- mayor had a blood-alcohol level of .08, the baseline that marks the point at which a motorist is considered under the influence while behind the wheel.

“I believe once all facts regarding the event have been revealed and the legal due process is complete, I will be exonerated,” Long said in his resignation statement.

He vowed to press on with his re-election bid but conceded that he needed to vacate his office, lest there be any “hint of impropriety.”

Along with the DUI count, Long is charged with four sentence-enhancing bodily injury allegations. He’s slated to be arraigned Dec. 11.

In his campaign statement, Long touted fiscal responsibility and efforts to ensure a “high quality of life” for Murrieta residents as selling points.

“Public safety, jobs, open space, quality development and maintaining a caring and connected community will continue to be my top priorities,” he said.

Fellow Councilman Rick Gibbs is also up for re-election Tuesday, seeking a third term in office. Gibbs preceded Long as mayor. The seat is rotated annually.

Gibbs emphasized his dedication to improving local medical care and creating a more business- and military-friendly city as central components of his platform.

Other candidates are:

• Matthew Alvernaz, a law enforcement officer and former Army serviceman. He is seeking to curb “over-development” in the community
• Brian Barton, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer
• Ruthane Taylor-Burger, the city’s transportation finance director. Her interests are job creation and improving local travel corridors
• Jonathan Ingram, a small business owner
• C. Kent Leeper, a substitute teacher, who advocates restricting outside influences, protecting the city’s finances and “following the U.S. Constitution.”
• James Richardson, a local businessman
• Donna Serafin, a former computer technician who led the fight to rid the city of its red light traffic camera system. Serafin wants policies that promote “quality jobs” and preserve or enhance local services.

— By City News Service.