Rex Richardson is a Long Beach City Councilmember and regional leader with a proven track record of collaboration and problem solving that has helped improve the lives of Long Beach residents.
Rising Above Adversity
Throughout his life, Rex Richardson faced tough odds and rose above adversity. From firsthand experience, he understands the work and determination it takes for families and communities to climb into the middle class.
Rex’s father served our country in the Air Force and his mother — a child of the South who integrated her school — worked as a union assembly line welder at General Motors. When his parents divorced, Rex’s family fell on hard times, experiencing job instability and housing insecurity. His determined single mom worked hard to get their family back on track.
With the help of public schools and youth opportunity programs, Rex set forth on a path toward a better future. His mother’s hard work culminated in Rex’s college acceptance, opening the door to a life different than he had experienced growing up.
Collaborative Leader for Long Beach
After serving as the Student Body President of Cal State Dominguez Hills, Rex Richardson became a community organizer with SEIU Local 721, helping blue-collar workers in South Los Angeles County. At age 25, Rex bought his first home in North Long Beach, becoming the first person in his family to own real estate. He soon began serving as Chief of Staff to Councilmember Steve Neal, where they brought neighborhood, labor, business, and clergy leaders together to improve economic conditions in North Long Beach.
In 2014, Rex won his City Council race with 73% of the vote and made history as Long Beach’s youngest member to ever serve.
Rex established himself as a collaborative leader and change agent. He’s earned a reputation as a hardworking leader focused on ensuring every Long Beach neighborhood receives equitable investment and access to opportunity.
His track record of pursuing positive change for his community has left a tangible mark on the entire city. He worked alongside neighborhood leaders to bring vital public safety, economic, and community investments, such as road and sidewalk repairs, as part of his “Uptown Renaissance” initiative. He secured significant investments into the revitalization of North Long Beach that led to the creation of the Michelle Obama Library, the Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center, and the restoration of the wetlands at DeForest Park.
Rex was instrumental in building Long Beach’s first municipal homeless shelter with supportive bridge housing that has helped unhoused individuals move off the streets. He also championed creating the Long Beach Office of Equity to improve community health outcomes, which has led to a more equitable response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rex also worked with our firefighters to restore essential public safety services, such as Paramedic Rescue 12, which shortened emergency response times citywide.
A testament to his accomplishments in his first term, he was re-elected with 79.8% of the vote. His peers also elected him to serve as Long Beach’s Vice Mayor twice.
Rex pushes for equity through regional policymaking as the Immediate Past President of the Southern California Association of Governments and as a South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Member.
Rex and his wife, Dr. Nina Richardson, are homeowners in North Long Beach, where they reside with their two young daughters.