How To Vote In Redondo Beach's City Council Recall

REDONDO BEACH, CA — The special general election for the recall of Redondo Beach District 4 City Councilmember Zein Obagi takes place today, here are the basic essentials residents should know about the election before casting their vote.

City Clerk Eleanor Manzano said the election will be taking place in the council chamber, which opened at 10 a.m. The count will be streamed online starting at 6 p.m.and results will be announced after 8 p.m. when polls close. Ballot drop-off locations can be found here.

On Feb. 18 Long Beach resident Elliot Lewis delivered a notice of intent to recall Obagi and Peter Aziz filed a recall petition on March 3, according to Ballotpedia. Lewis is the CEO of Long Beach cannabis dispensary Catalyst Cannabis, who is outspoken about supporting the recall and Measure E, a cannabis regulation ordinance.

Obagi filed a statement in response to the recall effort, stating residents and other councilmembers have called him "the most effective councilmember District 4 has seen in decades."

"It's going to be a close race because a large minority never wanted me to replace the prior council member, and Elliot Lewis has spread a lot of misinformation," Obagi told Patch.

Obagi said he stands by his work in the council over his 10-month service and would like to add to his list of accomplishments including the first neighborhood dog run and improvements to the safety for bikes and pedestrians on Grant Avenue.

Tonya McKenzie, Los Angeles County Commissioner of Alcohol another Drugs, is running against Obagi in the recall. McKenzie said she is proud of how the community and volunteers came out to show what matters to the people living in Redondo Beach.

"What I hope for this district for election is that people see that if we stay alert, and we stay on top of what's going on in our community, it never comes to a recall again," McKenzie said. "If nothing else, we've been able to build a lot of awareness for things that people didn't even know were going on in the community, but it shouldn't have to come to a recall election in order for people to recognize that things aren't going the way that they should be going."