City Employee Unions Representing Police & Fire Preparing To Endorse Incumbent Councilman Patrick O'Donnell As Write-In For Third Term

O'Donnell initially sought Assembly seat when Bonnie Lowenthal sought state Senate; when she changed plans to seek another Ass'y term, he announced third-term Council bid

(Jan. 20, 2012, 9:50 p.m.) -- LBReport.com has learned that the city employee associations (unions) representing police officers (LBPOA) and firefighters (LBFFA) are preparing to endorse incumbent Councilman Patrick O'Donnell, who is seeking a third term via the write-in procedure under LB's term limit law.

Two other 4th district candidates will have their names listed on the April 2012 ballot: retired LBPD Sgt. John Watkins and Atherton Corridor Neighborhood Ass'n President (and member of city's Sustainability Comm'n) Daryl Supernaw.

Councilman O'Donnell, who was elected to the Council in 2004 with the support of the LB Police Officers Association, initially announced he was a candidate for state Assembly when incumbent Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal announced she would seek a state Senate seat...but when Assemblywoman Lowenthal changed plans to seek another Ass'y term, O'Donnell changed his plans and announced he would seek a third Council term. If Lowenthal is reelected to the Assembly, she will have to vacate her seat in 2014. The 4th district Council term of office runs to 2016.

To date, no Council incumbent seeking a third term via the city's write-in procedure has ultimately prevailed, despite an eased write-in procedure in which the candidate's name appears on the ballot in a June runoff if he/she is among the top two finishers in April (if neither of them receive 50%+1 votes).

That rule didn't apply in 2006 when write-in incumbent Councilwoman Jackie Kell was unseated by challenger Gerrie Schipske, but it did apply by 2010 when write-in Councilwoman Tonia Uranga made it into a runoff with an equal ballot listing against challenger James Johnson (who prevailed). In 2010, challenger Steve Neal was elected with over 50% of the vote in the April initial election against write-in incumbent Councilman Val Lerch.