Mayoral debate in Long Beach spotlights harbor, business plans and a candidatecall for an audit

Tim Pierce, a former Stennis Space Center official and long-serving school board member, and Glenn Powell, a retired law enforcement officer, used a Long Beach mayoral forum on Tuesday to press a shared theme: bring businesses back to Highway 90 and make local government more transparent.

Pierce said he would prioritize a master plan tied to concrete funding priorities and lean on state and federal relationships to win grants and rebuild the harbor area. "When you invest in business, the return on that investment is going to come back," he told the audience, arguing a strategic plan helps the city spend unexpected funds without "a knee-jerk reaction." Powell said he would run short weekly "mayor minutes" livestreams to explain projects, budgets and progress and to improve accountability.

The debate turned sharp when Raymond DeFlavus, one of the candidates in the later panel, accused the current administration of cronyism and called for an outside audit of city finances and projects. DeFlavus said he planned both an internal audit and an independent external audit and criticized what he called a lack of transparency around a visitor center project and a municipal canal tax. "I would audit the city," he said, urging voters to examine contracts and fees.

Moderators cautioned speakers not to make accusatory statements directed at named officials. The forum included several interruptions and a tense exchange between DeFlavus and audience members who pressed him about past social-media comments; moderators repeatedly reminded the floor to stay on the questions.

On policy, candidates largely agreed on several points: prioritize infrastructure, increase business attraction, and support the school district. Pierce focused on raising teacher and public safety pay by growing the tax base; Powell emphasized grant-seeking and local outreach to merchants. Both tied improvements in schools, police and roads to broader economic strategies.

The forum did not end in any formal action or decision; candidates closed by urging residents to register and vote in the upcoming municipal election.