(April 30, 2007) -- A political action committee of the LB Area Chamber of Commerce funded a mailer in support of, but presumably prepared and sent independently of, 6th district Council candidate Ahmed Saafir, targeting conservative voters in LB's predominantly Democrat 6th Council district and featuring a photo of LB Police Chief Anthony Batts with Mr. Saafir.

Chief Batts hasn't endorsed Mr. Saafir (or to our knowledge anyone else) and candidate Saafir hasn't claimed the endorsement.

The "Long Beach Pro-Business PAC, Sponsored by Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce" mailing doesn't explicitly claim Chief Batts' endorsement but in text adjoining a large photo of Mr. Saafir with the Chief (joined by children wearing some scouting-style uniforms) the Chamber PAC-funded mailer calls Mr. Saafir "the ONLY pro-Jobs, pro-Public Safety, Pro-Family Conservative for City Council."

Cropped, sized photo from LB Chamber PAC independent expenditure pro-Saafir mailer. [Handwritten arrow is by some third party]

Message left with a Chamber VP today and yesterday by LBReport.com haven't been returned thus far. We'll update our text if/when comment is received.

Late Independent Expenditure Reports aren't currently on the City Clerk's web site...and forms showing the Chamber PAC's involvement in the 6th district race were provided on request to LBReport.com by the City Clerk's office this morning (Monday April 30).

Listed below are some salient contributors to the Chamber-funded efforts in the 6th district race. The contributions below refer to amounts indicated as received after the mailing discussed above; not contributions are shown.

The Chamber PAC's listed expenses in the 6th district race include $788 for phone banking, a mass mailing costing over $3,000 and a precinct mailing for $6,000.

The multi-candidate field in the winner-take-all race, coupled with the district's low number of registered voters and a possible low turnout, has made the race less than predictable. Candidates Lillian Parker, citing her local roots, and former 6th district candidate Dee Andrews (who nearly beat Richardson in an election contest several years ago) are among those also seeking the Council seat vacated by Richardson when she was elected to the Assembly in November.