For Long Beach City Council, Mandel, Goggin and Eramo

Two years ago, Democrats wrested control of the city from the Republican-led coalition — which, in addition to missteps such as its handling of the Quiksilver Pro New York event, allowed the political discourse in Long Beach to devolve into petty interparty squabbles.

The Democrats played a role in this dysfunction, of course, with hard-core supporters in high dudgeon each time the GOP appointed a political supporter. But when the city was forced to borrow to make payroll just before Christmas 2011, it became clear just how bad Long Beach’s finances were, and Moody’s downgraded its bond rating five levels.

When the Democrats took office in January 2012, they were faced with tough choices. They inherited a multi-million-dollar deficit, and the city’s books were a mess. The previous administration had overestimated revenues but continued to overspend. Forced to dole out millions in unbudgeted termination payouts to retiring police officials, it had wiped out its reserve fund in four years.

The new team quickly made tough cuts, streamlined operations and instituted a necessary tax increase and a so-called deficit reduction surcharge to bring in much-needed revenue. Moody’s stabilized the city’s credit rating and lauded the administration for restoring fiscal responsibility, a proactive approach that state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said “will be necessary to address systemic budget problems and lead the city out of fiscal stress.”

The Democrats, too, appointed and hired a number of political supporters, and, whether they were qualified or not, it did little to erase the perception of politics as usual at City Hall. But they brought in City Manager Jack Schnirman, a young, energetic outsider who began straightening out the city’s finances. They also appointed a new commissioner of public works, Jim LaCarrubba, who is to be commended for his role in the city’s rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Sandy.