Recently-elected Third District Councilmember Suzie Price was only 7 years old when she and her mother fled Iran during the country’s 1979 revolution.
Price and her mother had to leave their family behind as well as their country.
“I remember when we left the country,” Price said. “A lot of people were leaving with no intention of coming back.”
Although Price was young, she still remembers driving through the streets and seeing trashcans filled with burning books and idols of the Shah, also known as Mohammad Rezâ Šâh Pahlavi, who served as Iran’s pro-western leader from 1941 to 1979. But that life is a far cry from the one she lives today.
Price, who earned her bachelor’s degree at Cal State Long Beach 20 years ago, reflected on her life and connections to the City of Long Beach before being elected to the district that encompasses Los Alamitos and CSULB.
Price began her education at CSULB in 1990 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1994.
“It was one of those decisions that I’m not sure why I made it, but I’m so glad I did because it shaped my entire life,” Price said.
During her time at CSULB, Price lived in Building N of Parkside College, an experience that she said helped to mold her into a leader.
“Up until that point, having left behind my father and sister, I had many years of just pure depression,” Price said. “So when I went to [CSULB] … I just really found my wings, independence and confidence.”
That confidence translated into her involvement in everything from Greek life to student government.
During her short time at CSULB, Price held a number of leadership roles including an Associated Students Inc. associate justice in 1992, an ASI senator-at-large in 1993 and ASI president in 1994. She was also a student teacher at the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center from 1990 to 1992 and served as chair on its board of directors in 1994.
She became very close to her colleagues while serving in student government. Some of the contacts she made, such as ASI Executive Director Richard Haller, have contributed to her campaign for city council.
“I gotta tell you, I got tears in my eyes when I got notice of his contribution,” Price said. “It was just so cool.”
She also said that she is still close to Doug Robison, former vice president of student services. She said he still supports her in her professional and personal life.
“That was my family … my ‘AS family’ is what I used to call them,” she said. “And they’ve been a part of my life all these years.”
Price also earned her master’s degree in public policy and administration from CSULB. She graduated with distinction and was selected as CSULB’s “1996 Outstanding Graduate from the College of Health and Human Services.”
Since her time at CSULB, Price has served as Orange County Deputy District Attorney and has been elected to the Long Beach City Council’s Third District seat.
“CSULB is part of the Third District, and therefore the students who live on campus are obviously part of my direct constituency,” Price said. “It will be important for me to listen to and represent their issues the best that I can.”
When it comes to politics, her priorities are to ensure that Long Beach remains fiscally strong while focusing on economic development, jobs and fiscal restraint, according to Price’s website.
Price said that she plans to advocate to City Council to utilize CSULB’s workforce as an incentive to recruit and bring additional businesses to Long Beach.
She said she will also work on issues that students may face in terms of rent and being able to find affordable housing and jobs.
“I will continue to make myself available to the university and assist the university with any project programs or anything they find my input to be helpful,” Price said.
Price lives with her husband and two children in Alamitos Heights.