(March 28, 2008) -- Timed to coincide with the Democrats' statewide party meeting -- at which the state Dem Party (via a local caucus) could endorse its favored Dem in the June Assembly primary, Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal's Assembly campaign on Friday (March 28) announced the endorsement of LB Mayor Bob Foster in her duel with fellow Dem LB Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga.
A written release from the Lowenthal campaign quotes Mayor Foster as saying:
"Long Beach needs experienced leadership in the State Assembly to make sure our city's critical issues are addressed. I have been quite impressed with Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal's work to improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods she represents. She has worked to add new park space, preserve affordable housing, put more police on patrol and reduce toxic pollution from the ports. Bonnie Lowenthal brings people together to work for a better future. That's why I am proud to support her for State Assembly."
In the release, Vice Mayor Lowenthal responded to news of the endorsement by saying, "I have immense respect for the work Bob Foster is doing as our Mayor. His intelligence, diligence and creativity are making a real difference for our community. I am honored to have his support."
The Lowenthal campaign release notes that roughly 60% of Dem voters in the 54th Assembly district live in LB.
Reaction from the Reyes Uranga camp came within a few hours from the candidate herself. Councilwoman Reyes Uranga, speaking from the state Dem Party convention in San Jose, told LBReport.com:
"Once we garnered the support of the teachers in Long Beach [Teachers Ass'n of LB] and the region, and once we garnered the support of the L.A. City Firefighters (which is the second largest fire group second only to the state firefighters), and after we blocked them at the pre-convention two weeks ago, their jaws dropped and they needed to do something to stop my momentum and this is what they did. The Lowenthal family pressured him [Mayor Foster] into an endorsement."
Earlier this week, as previously reported by LBReport.com, the Lowenthal campaign announced the endorsements of LB Councilmembers Patrick O'Donnell and Val Lerch.
Dem voters in LB, Signal Hill, San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes -- not the Party apparatus -- will ultimately decide which of the two LB Dems advances to the November general election ballot to face a Repub and other parties' candidates in the Dem drawn district.Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal's Assembly.
The last LB-area Dem to run in a contested election against fellow Dems as the "official" endorsee of the state Dem Party was State Senator Jenny Oropeza (June 2007 election to succeed the late Cong. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D., Carson)). In that race, non-Party endorsed candidate Assemblywoman Laura Richardson prevailed.
