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Lucius Martin graphic

Mayor Rex Richardson appoints new deputy mayor of economic development

Release Date: 2023-03-02

By KRISTY HUTCHINGS | khutchings@scng.com |
PUBLISHED: March 2, 2023 at 3:38 p.m. | UPDATED: March 2, 2023 at 5:37 p.m.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson has appointed a new deputy mayor of economic development to his office, a first-of-its-kind position — that will focus on bolstering growth in the city’s aerospace, goods, tourism, education and health care industries.

Lucius Martin, who has worked for the city for a decade — most recently leading the Economic Development Department’s Business Development Bureau — will step into the new role in mid-March, Richardson announced on Thursday, March 2.

The deputy mayor position is one of 4.5 new jobs added to the mayor’s office because of about $700,000 in year-end surplus funds from the city’s 2021-22 year-end budget. Richardson’s office will also use that extra money to appoint a new housing deputy and hire additional staff within the legislative department.

The City Council OK’d those budget allocations in February.

“Mr. Martin has demonstrated a proven track record of capable and effective leadership during his time with the City as a workforce development leader and relationship builder,” Richardson said in the announcement. “I am thrilled to welcome him to the team and look forward to his contributions as we grow our Long Beach economy in new and exciting directions.”

Martin will also spearhead Richardson’s Grow Long Beach initiative, a collaboration with local organizations, including the Long Beach Accelerator, the Long Beach Economic Partnership and the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion.

That initiative aims to support 100 new business startups within the aerospace, supply chain, tourism, health care, and education industries over the next five years.

Martin will also serve as a public-facing liaison between Richardson’s office and the city’s business community, the announcement said.

“Mayor Richardson has put forth an exciting vision for the future of our city, and Long Beach is heading in the right direction,” Martin said in a written statement. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue my service to the City of Long Beach and take on this new role, where I can help attract new businesses, boost our local economy, and ensure opportunity is extended to all parts of our city.”