FURTHER UPDATED: Councilman O'Donnell Drops Ass'y Run, Will Pursue Third Term Council Write-In; Declared Council Candidates Supernaw & Watkins Say They're In The Council Race To Win; FURTHER UPDATE: Candidate Herlinda Chico Suspends Her Campaign Indefinitely, Will Support O'Donnell

(UPDATE: Jan. 7, 2012, 8:26 a.m.) -- Herlinda Chico has suspended her 4th district City Council campaign in the wake of Councilman Patrick O'Donnell's announcement yesterday (see below) that he will seek a third term via write-in. Her statement below to LBReport.com follows:

Councilmember O'Donnell is a friend and as I said from the beginning of my campaign my intention was to continue his good work and strong leadership. Now that he has announced he will run for a third term to represent the 4th council district, I have decided to suspend my City Council campagin indefinitely. Councilmember O'Donnell has been a great member of the City Council and he has my full support. I look forward to continuing our work together for the 4th District.

As reported yesterday (Jan. 6) by LBReport.com, Ms. Chico's Facebook page for her candidacy and her candidacy webpage were both down (i.e. not online) as of 6:09 p.m. Jan. 6.

(Jan. 6, 2012) -- In a midday release, Councilman Patrick O'Donnell announced Friday [via personal email/phone from supporter] that he "will not pursue a seat in the state Assembly" and will instead seek reelection to the City Council for a third term via a write-in campaign.

His decision sets up a battle with at least two and possibly three already announced candidates (their comments invited and uploaded below as received).

Councilman O'Donnell's decision comes after Assembly incumbent Bonnie Lowenthal dropped her state Senate run (in a newly redrawn district, deferring to Assemblyman Ricardo Lara) and announced she would instead seek reelection to the Assembly (which is mainly a LB district). [If O'Donnell had pursued the Assembly race, he would have faced Dem incumbent Bonnie Lowenthal.]

Meanwhile, three other individuals have already announced their candidacies for the 4th district Council seat...and had these responses for when asked for their comments in reaction to Councilman O'Donnell's decision:

• Daryl Supernaw, a member of the City Council's Sustainable City Advisory Commission and a Los Altos area community advocate who announced his candidacy in late September 2011 -- told LBReport.com, "I've made my decision [to seek to represent the 4th Council district." I'm sticking to it."

• [Update] John Watkins, a retired LBPD Officer who announced his candidacy in April 2011, tells LBReport.com: "The residents of Long Beach voted term limits in Nov of 92. Patrick has served the city well during the last 8 years. I think it's unfortunate that he's not honoring the vote of the people. I have to ask if this council run is just a fill in for the next two years until a possible ,Assembly run in two years, or will he make a run for mayor? I have served the city of Long Beach for 29 years as a police officer, and am commited to this election and serving this great city as their 4th district Councilman."

• [subsequent development reported above] Comments from former 7th district Council office aide Herlinda Chico have been invited and will be added as received. However, LBReport.com has noticed that as of 6:09 p.m. Jan. 6, Ms. Chico's Facebook page for her candidacy and her candidacy webpage are both down (i.e. not online as of 6:09 p.m.).

4th dist. candidates who file required paperwork by January 13 will have their names on the April 2012 ballot...while O'Donnell won't (he'll be a write-in candidate only). If none of the candidates receive over 50%+1 of the votes cast in April, a runoff follows in June for the top two finishers. If O'Donnell is one of the top two finishers in April, his name would be on the ballot in a June runoff.

Mayor Beverly O'Neill was elected to a third term in a citywide write-in, but no Council incumbent has ever been reelected to a third term via write-in. 5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell tried and failed. Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga made it into a runoff against challenger James Johnson, but was outpolled by Johnson (when Uranga's name was on the ballot) in a June runoff. Vice Mayor Val Lerch also waged a write-in campaign, but was outpolled by challenger Steven Neal in the initial April 2010 election.

Further to follow.