Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

Name: Megan Kerr

Current job title: Councilwoman, City of Long Beach

Age: 52

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Board of Education Member, Long Beach Unified School District (2014-2022)

City where you reside: Long Beach

Campaign website or social media: megankerr.com

One of the main issues local leaders are grappling with is Long Beach’s current and long-term fiscal position. With major budgetary concerns on the horizon, explain your top priorities for Long Beach’s financial future and plans to achieve them. (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

The abrupt reduction or rescission of federal grants over the past year – particularly in areas impacting our health department and critical areas such as housing and infrastructure — make it difficult for the city to maintain the services we’ve counted on to help our communities.

At the same time, the expiration of pandemic-era relief funds and the fact that people are spending less due to uncertainty in the greater economy have resulted in declining consumer spending, which hurts our local businesses and directly impacts tax revenues.

I began my public service work in the height of the Great Recession, during a time of major cuts and impacts to our city. I learned then how critical it is that we manage public dollars wisely, to budget conservatively and with a plan for reserves and sustainability so that lean times like the period we’re entering cause as little havoc as possible for our residents. This frames best how I look at our discussions around our city’s financial future and how we plan for the needs of our communities. Public safety, protecting our infrastructure and maintaining a high level of constituent services will always be top priorities for me.

Long Beach residents have been sounding the alarm about the presence of federal immigration enforcement agents and operations in the city. Where do you stand on ICE/CBP actions, and how to plan to address residents’ concerns about this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

As a lifelong Long Beach resident, I know that our strength lies in our diversity. Long Beach has long welcomed immigrants from around the world, and they are integral to our neighborhoods, businesses and school communities. Immigrants have built our nation since its inception and bring vitality to our art and food scenes. The policies of the Trump administration have left families in fear of going about their daily lives, and this impacts everyone in our community.

We proudly reaffirmed our Long Beach Values Act that supports our justice fund, provides resources and information and makes clear that the city does not enforce federal immigration law. I also understand that this alone does not always reassure residents of safety. I wholeheartedly oppose violent and unjust means used to detain people without judicial warrants, and the violation of due process that has happened across our city.

We have to continue to support and uplift each other in the community by building and maintaining strong relationships with community-based organizations that are funding basic aid work, rendering legal advice and family support to our vulnerable and impacted community members.

Homelessness and affordable housing continue to be a top issue for Long Beach residents. What is your position on the city’s current efforts to reduce homelessness and increase affordable housing availability, and how do you plan to improve these efforts? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

The city has taken steps to address homelessness and the housing crisis over the last three years. We have opened over 80 additional year-round shelter beds, expanded our inclusionary housing policy citywide and led the state in ADU production per capita, which offers property owners extra income while increasing much-needed housing supply or the ability to care for a parent or extended family member.

An important strategy for addressing homelessness is prevention. With the help of voter-approved LA County Measure A, the city is allocating funds to eviction prevention, legal aid and shallow subsidies for rental assistance for senior citizens, the fastest growing group of people at risk for homelessness.

The city needs to continue to encourage housing production of all types across the city to meet demand and lower costs. All areas of the city must be a part of the solution for meeting our affordable housing needs and providing ownership opportunities for those who want to call Long Beach home. While we have successfully grown resources for affordable housing production, we also need to find ways to encourage housing opportunities for the struggling middle class.

What is the biggest issue your district specifically faces, and how do you plan to address it, if elected? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)

Residents across District 5 believe that whether it’s driving, walking or biking, we all want safer and better-maintained streets and sidewalks.

Like all districts, District 5 faces significant infrastructure needs, including street rehabilitation, sidewalk repair and tree and park maintenance. As the economy continues to slow along our business corridors, we are seeing increased business closures and empty storefronts, leading to vandalism and blight. The continued investment in public safety and emergency services and are an important part of that solution.

Boosting economic development and revenue for the city is a key part of maintaining city services. We must support economic engines such as the Port of Long Beach, our downtown entertainment district and the emerging opportunities around the Queen Mary. As a tourism-driven city, enhanced amenities along the waterfront draw people to our hotels, restaurants and special events, increasing much-needed revenue for our city.

What experience do you bring to the table for this role? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

I have extensive experience in leadership roles in Long Beach, including serving eight years on the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education with two terms as chair, representing more than 100,000 residents, giving me concrete experience serving residents and families from diverse cultural and financial backgrounds.

I have served three years on the City Council, serving residents at a granular level, working on specific needs of individual community members and neighborhoods while keeping in mind the larger, shared needs across our city. I have deep knowledge of city departments and work collaboratively with leadership to find solutions quickly. I hold regional leadership positions currently serving as the vice chair of the Gateway Cities Housing Trust and a member of the Community, Economic and Human Development committee for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).

I have volunteered at several nonprofits for the last 30+ years, including direct work with unhoused individuals, survivors of domestic violence and hospice patients. I currently serve as board chair for Confluence Rising, a local nonprofit dedicated to building a world where people live free of oppression and thrive, and as an executive board member for Rancho Los Cerritos, a local historical site.