The Huntington Beach City Councilmembers have pushed back against numerous progressive policies put into place at the state level, with the most recent action challenging AB 1955.

Huntington Beach has seen somewhat of a conservative backlash against California’s progressive drift. This included the removing of the rainbow flag from City Hall last year, as well as a recent challenge to California’s AB 1955.

AB1955 was signed into effect last month by Governor Gavin Newsom, and it prevents school personnel from informing the parents of a student’s gender transition. The new law received a lot of criticism even from Elon Musk who expressed his outrage on X over Newsom’s signing of the law.

Recently Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark has “introduced an ordinance” to challenge the new law in the city of Huntington Beach. Her desire is to make Huntington Beach a “right to know” city, or a “sanctuary city” for parental rights. 

Mayor Van Der Mark stated on X, “It is our constitutional right to to raise our own children with the values, morals, and beliefs we choose to instill in them, not the state’s.” 

City Council Member Dan Kalmick called this action a “ridiculous and weird agenda item…” He also said that this “creates another circus in Huntington Beach.” Kalmick is one of the three left-leaning council members, who is up for re-election this year. 

In fact, this November election will still see a conservative majority retain control, and determine the direction of the council for the next few years. If the three left-leaning members aren’t re-elected, it will likely solidify the conservative direction for years afterwards. 

This new ordinance will probably play an important role in the upcoming election later this year. Mayor Van Der Mark is determined to “send a message to Sacramento” that Huntington Beach is not going to let this go without a fight. 

The conservative members of the city council have been successful at their pushback against the progressive leaning of the rest of California, and they are not alone in their outspoken criticism of the governor on a number of issues. 

Other California public officials like Placer County Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA), and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, have also been outspoken with regards to this law, as well as the Governor’s handling of a number of issues including homelessness and crime in California.

Enjoy the Aloha Fair, classic rock music and rescued horses this week in Huntington Beach

Sunday, September 1: Aloha Fair

Experience the magic of Polynesia at the Aloha Fair on Sunday, Sept. 1. The event, which features food, shopping and live entertainment, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 16160 Beach Blvd. 

Entertainment at the fair includes Polynesian dance and music performances. Seating is provided at the venue. Shopping includes various island style arts and crafts. Food includes Hawaiian shave ice and other food trucks. 

The Aloha Fair takes place on the first Sunday of each month and runs through February. The fair will return to Huntington Beach on Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 5, and Feb. 2. 

Admission and parking are both free to the public. Inquiries about the Aloha Fair can be sent to [email protected].

“Hug and Groom” Rescued Horses

Hug and Groom is a monthly event hosted by the Free Rein Foundation where individuals can get close and interact with rescued horses that are part of equine-assisted therapy programs. Participants learn how to groom and care for horses which include mustangs, thoroughbreds and white mules. 

The event takes place at the pasture above the Huntington Park Equestrian Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m and includes free snacks and fruit. Parking is located on Ellis Avenue. 

The cost of attendance is $25 and children under two-years-old may enter for free. All proceeds are used to feed the foundation’s rescued horses. Attendees are asked to where covered shoes and clothes suitable for a dusty pasture. 

September’s Hug and Groom is the first of four events scheduled through December. The remaining Hug and Groom events will be held on Oct. 6, Nov. 3, and Dec. 1. 

Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical British Invasion

Enjoy classic rock cover bands on Sept. 1 at The Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

B Side, a Beatles tribute band, will play from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. before Running Hot, a Rolling Stones cover band, plays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Seating is first come, first serve and food is available to order. 

The Biergarten at Old World HB is located at 7561 Center Ave. The event occurs on the first Sunday of each month. 

Kennedy pledges to uphold Huntington Beach values and drive positive change as challengers line up for a competitive fall election.

Don Kennedy, current Vice Chairman of the Huntington Beach Planning Commission and a native of the city, said, after launching his campaign for city council, that he has “always had a genuine love for Huntington Beach.” But in recent years, the coastal city has had its conservative identity challenged by both Sacramento legislators and lobbyists and city activists alike. 

“Things are changing here in HB [sic], some for the better and some things that need changing. It’s these reasons that I want to represent the citizens of Huntington Beach as a Council Member.”

After growing up in Huntington Beach, Kennedy, with his wife of nearly thirty years, elected to raise his own family in Surf City—their three children attending the same schools that he did. In his professional life, Kennedy has amassed several decades of experience in executive leadership in business. He cites this experience, as well as his passion for volunteering, as reasons why he is running for Huntington Beach City Council.

“I believe that if I don’t like something or see the need for positive change and I have an opportunity to get involved and change it for the better I do so. Especially if it involves the city I love. I feel it’s my duty, my civic responsibility,” Kennedy wrote on his campaign Facebook page.

Kennedy has joined forces with Chad Williams and Don Kennedy, forming the ‘HB3’ slate supported by many prominent elected officials, including Huntington Beach Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns, Councilman Tony Strickland, Councilman Casey McKeon, City Attorney Michael Gates, former Mayor Jim Silva, State Senator Janet Nguyen, Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, Congressional candidate and former Assemblyman Scott Baugh, and more. 

Kennedy and his fellow HB3 candidates have also received endorsements from distinguished county leadership organizations like the Orange County GOP and the Lincoln Club of Orange County.  

In the March 5th primary election, Kennedy worked with Huntington Beach leaders and volunteers to promote three charter amendments: Measure A to ensure the City maintains voter integrity, Measure B to unify the City’s patriotic flag policy, and Measure C to improve the City’s long-term financial planning. The passage of Measures A and B, supported by the current council’s conservative leaders, made national headlines for bucking the trend of an increasingly progressive culture in southern California.

“With the solidarity of our council majority HB is moving in the right direction as per the ‘voice of the people’ which is what good elected representatives do,” wrote Kennedy on his campaign Instagram in response to Measures A and B passing.

If elected to city council, Kennedy intends to “enhance community safety through increased police visibility and engagement,” “preserve and safeguard wetlands, wildlife habitats,” “utilize county resources to develop effective solutions for homelessness,” “boost revenue by attracting new businesses” and “bolstering support for local enterprises,” according to his campaign website. 

Kennedy additionally cited his intention to support the Huntington Beach City Attorney’s “endeavors to uphold laws, safeguard residents’ interests, and preserve local control.”

Several Democratic candidates, such as former Councilwoman Kim Carr, event planner Cody Cleary, and three sitting incumbent councilmembers—Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick, and Natalie Moser—are challenging the HB3 slate.

Huntington Beach boasts a population of about 200,000 residents and has developed a reputation in recent years as Southern California’s “MAGA stronghold,” according to the Washington Post, “defying the state’s coastal liberalism.” Residents elected a new conservative majority to the city council in 2022, an indicator of how Republican priorities remain popular amongst Surf City voters. 

With endorsements from all current conservatives on the council, including Councilman Tony Strickland, who is likely to win his election for State Senate, Kennedy and his fellow HB3 slate members would pick up that torch if elected in November.

As voters gear up for the fall election, Kennedy wrote: “I am committed to putting in the work to earn the votes and respect of the residents who love this city like I do.