Long Beach Press-Telegram
 

Thursday, May 23, 2002

Microphone Politics

 

By Jason Gewirtz,
Staff writer

An activist's attempt to slip mayoral candidate Norm Ryan's name into her three minutes of public speaking time at Tuesday's council meeting resulted in Mayor Beverly O'Neill, another candidate, cutting off the microphone.

Colette Marie McLaughlin, who supports Ryan, cited him twice in her comments regarding an alley survey presented to the council.

Councilwoman Laura Richardson-Batts, who has endorsed O'Neill, objected each time, saying the public's speaking time was not supposed to be "a political commercial."

O'Neill eventually shut the podium microphone before McLaughlin's three minutes were up.

"I still have time left, Mayor O'Neill," McLaughlin said.

"Not any more," O'Neill responded.