(January 24, 2006) -- LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill has endorsed Gary DeLong for City Council in the 3d district (southeast LB).

"Strong leadership is essential to the Long Beach community and Gary DeLong is an outstanding community leader who knows both the issues and the needs of Long Beach," said Mayor O'Neill in a release issued by the DeLong campaign.

Mr. DeLong is a member of City Hall's Economic Development Commission, a position to which Mayor O'Neill appointed him in 2003.

In his campaign release, Mr. DeLong said, "I am honored by Mayor O’Neill's support and I plan to emulate her high standard of integrity and ethics." He continued, "The Mayor has worked extremely hard to put Long Beach on the right track, and I am working hard for the opportunity to continue that progress, and move our city forward, while implementing my own vision for the City as well. After I am elected, I look forward to drawing on Mayor O'Neill's knowledge and wisdom, gained through her Mayoral experience. I will also be looking to Supervisor Don Knabe and Sheriff Lee Baca for their significant expertise as well."

L.A. County Sheriff Baca and L.A. County Supervisor Knabe have both endorsed DeLong's campaign, along with the LB Area Chamber of Commerce and the LB Firefighters Union.

Reached for comment, 3d district Council candidate Norm Ryan said, "What Long Beach voters have shown is if a candidate doesn't resonate with voters, Beverly can't save you. My evidence for that is [now former Councilmembers] Rob Webb and Dennis Carroll, who were actual incumbents [and defeated in 2004 despite Mayor O'Neill's endorsement]."

Noting that O'Neill didn't support the Prop J utility tax cut that he spearheaded (Prop J, which passed by roughly 70% of voters citywide, halving LB's then-10% utility tax in five years), Mr. Ryan quipped, "At least Beverly is an actual voter in the district. I probably lost her vote with my work on Prop J."

Mr. Ryan added, "I'm proud of the endorsement I recently received from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association as well as the endorsements of L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher."

Comment from 3d district candidates Charles Legeman and Stephanie Loftin is pending as we post.

Mr. DeLong has served on a number of civic boards and commissions; including, the Aquarium of the Pacific, ChildNet Youth & Family Services, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council, Long Beach City College Foundation, Long Beach Public Library Foundation and the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).

DeLong's campaign release letterhead lists the following members of his Advisory Council: