Candidate Conversations: Closing Statements
Nov 01, 2026 08:41AM ● By MB News Staff
This is the 7th week of candidates' contributions and discussions of a range of issues. Links to all prior editions are provided at the end of this post.
MARK BURTON
“I am not a politician. I’m a problem solver.” Mark Burton
With a successful career in City government, I know all aspects of municipal law and city operations. My career was distinguished by problem solving successes. That’s what I love to do! This election is about choosing between career "termed out" politicians or a proven city government problem solver. Vote Burton for transparency, fiscal responsibility and good common sense judgment.
Most Manhattan Beach residents support term limits, two terms maximum. As one Manhattan Beach resident put it: “Manhattan Beach was never meant to be governed by career politicians. After serving 12 and 16 years, Howorth and Montgomery are now seeking 16 and 20 years in office. The longer politicians remain in power, the closer they become to City Hall insiders and special interests. Over time, accountability fades, independence weakens, and residents no longer come first. Eight years is enough—two terms only.”
Lesser, Howorth and Montgomery all announced their intention to run and all three pulled Nomination Papers. Naturally, prospective candidates were intimidated to run against these career politicians. I met with several and all deferred running to 2028. Guess what? Lesser did not file Nomination Papers but Howorth and Montgomery did file Nomination Papers.
One of reasons I chose to run was the prospect of a “manipulated" uncontested election with Howorth and Montgomery coming back for a fourth and fifth term on Council. During their time together on Council, there was more fiscal mismanagement, less transparency and less listening to, and fighting for, our residents and small businesses.
If you want the status quo, you know who to vote for. If you want positive change, Vote Burton!
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
Since I left Council, city expenses have grown nearly $10 million a year. That has to stop and if you elect me, it will stop. When I was on Council, we increased revenue by over $6 million. We never dipped into reserves, because those are for emergencies, and we kept investing in infrastructure.
Additionally, this City Council spent approximately $250K studying options to increase business taxes. That effort ultimately failed, largely because it was perceived by the business community as a money grab targeting larger businesses.
I bring proven financial expertise and crisis leadership day one. In my first term as Mayor, I led the city through the Great Recession in 2008 - 2009. In my second term, I led our 100-year Centennial Celebration in 2011- 2012. In my third term, I led the city from day one of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020. I made tough budget adjustments and staff reductions while maintaining services with reduced revenue.
I will keep fighting residential high-rise development. As a Past President of the Independent Cities Association, I work with cities hurt by Sacramento's zoning overreach and support Our Neighborhood Voices returning local control.
I will demand continued electric bike enforcement and more police downtown and in the north end year-round, not just summer. Foot and bicycle patrols will be visible to businesses, residents and visitors.
This community is my life outside City Hall. I am a graduate and former board member of Leadership Manhattan Beach, a Chamber member and former board member, a Past President and current Vice President of the Hometown Fair, and President of our Rotary Club. I serve on the boards of the Roundhouse Aquarium, Beach Cities Toy Drive, MB Coordinating Council, Love MB Foundation, and on the MBEF Wine Auction Committee. As 2nd Vice President of the LAX Community Noise Roundtable, I fight for quieter skies. I am a former reserve police officer, and Diane and I are proud to call this city home.
Endorsements say a lot. I am proud to have the support of our mayor, three current City Council members, seven former Mayors, MBUSD school board members past and present, former Police Chief Rod Uyeda, and retired MBPD Captain Tim Hageman, local businesses and community leaders.
Voters have elected me four times. I treat every election as a report card on my performance, and I am proud of mine. If you see me walking your neighborhood, say hello. I am listening. Lean budgets, full reserves, visible police and no high rises. That is the city I have fought for and will keep fighting for. I love this city, I know this job, and I am ready to get back to work. I would be honored by your vote.
JOSEPH UNGOCO
My answer is simple: putting real term limits on the ballot for the residents to decide.
The residents voted decades ago to allow our current system of two terms, wait two years and then run again for another two terms. This is what is fundamentally wrong with our current system of electing representatives. For the past decade, I have watched as some of our most civic minded residents had the courage to run for a council seat only to find that they could not break through the power of incumbency and the name recognition of being a forever council member.
In talking to our residents, many are actually unaware that we don't have real term limits here in MB. A decade ago, many long term residents and special interest groups were appalled that nearly 30% of our population had lived in MB for less than 10 years. Today, a majority of our residents are "new" and only now are realizing that we don't have real term limits as they question why the same people seem to keep coming back and why most well qualified one time candidates opt not to run again.
We cannot continue to turn away bright, well intentioned, civic minded residents from public service - not if our representative local government is to actually represent our community and safeguard its future.
I chose to run because I want to be the change I hope to see in our representative government. I hope that I have earned your vote and look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve this community that I love so much.
AMY HOWORTH
Thank You, Manhattan Beach.
I'm writing this before the ballots have all been turned in and counted and while there is still campaigning to do, more than anything, I want to say thank you.
Thank you for inviting me into your homes and introducing me to your friends and neighbors. Thank you for stopping by our Hometown Fair booth in 99-degree heat. And thank you for engaging with me, whether you agreed with me or not. As I've always said whether or not you vote for me, I am still your representative.
In your living rooms you talked about potholes, code enforcement, tree trimming, sidewalk repair and construction noise. These are the everyday quality-of-life issues that matter most. We also talked about public safety, city finances and multi-story apartment buildings. Our community is smart. You know these issues don't have simple solutions, and you're rightly wary of anyone who says they do.
I care too much about this community to campaign by spreading fear, offering false hope or promising easy answers. Many of you told me you appreciated that, including some who don’t plan to vote for me. One resident put it this way:
“In fact, I respect her integrity and consistency: she tells voters what she believes and governs accordingly. If you vote for her you know and agree with her priorities and you know she will uphold them. You can’t ask more from a candidate. So I can disagree but I do respect her.”
That meant a great deal to me. We don’t have to agree on everything to trust each other.
This election has been different from any I've been part of. For years, candidates reached voters through our local print newspapers, whose journalists knew the community, understood the issues and interviewed every candidate fairly. As those papers have faded, social media accounts and blogs have taken their place, and many of them aren't open about who is behind them or what agenda they're pushing. This fall, some of those voices worked hard to manufacture controversy where none existed and to stir up fear about a city that, by almost any measure, is safe and well run. Outrage has become the currency, and nuance and decency are too often the casualties.
I want you to know I heard you. You value that police show up when you call. You love the programs at the Joslyn Center and the MBARTS Center. You love the Hometown Fair, the Pier Lighting, the North Manhattan Stroll, the Holiday Fireworks and Little League. So do I.
I love this city, and I've loved hearing from so many of you this fall, including where you think we can do better. If I've earned your trust for one more term, I'll keep listening, keep spending your tax dollars wisely, and keep Manhattan Beach the place we're all proud to call home.
Whatever the outcome, I'm grateful. Serving this community for the past 20 years has been the honor of my life.
See all prior candidate questions and answers:
https://www.thembnews.com/2026/10/25/588578/candidate-conversations-redevelopment-in-downtown-manhat...
