LONG BEACH : Topsy-Elvord Declared Winner of Council Race

Doris Topsy-Elvord was declared the winner Friday in the Long Beach City Council’s 6th District race, beating incumbent Clarence Smith by 22 votes.

However, Smith’s campaign manager, Mike Robbins, said Smith plans to ask for a recount and also intends to file a lawsuit challenging the election. Robbins said there were “some strange inconsistencies” in the April primary results. He also expressed concern about the late arrival of three ballot boxes, which were not delivered to City Hall until several hours after the polls closed Tuesday night. City Clerk Shelba Powell said she had looked into the delay and found no irregularities.