Immediate Past Councilwoman Rae Gabelich Backs Laurie Angel Over Austin And Turnbow In 8th District Race, Says This As She Announces Fundraiser For Angel

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(Mar. 16, 2016, 9:30 a.m.) -- Immediate past 8th district City Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who co-founded LBHUSH2 and was elected to two Council terms before retiring under term limits and endorsing Al Austin four years ago, has sent a emailing supporting the election of challenger Laurie Angel with a fundraiser for Ms. Angel next week.

"Her watchful eye and willingness to challenge our city council when questionable items and decisions come before them has not been surpassed by any other community leader in our city," Ms. Gabelich wrote, calling Ms. Angel's campaign a grassroots effort "much as my 2004 run was over our local airport concerns."

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Ms. Gabelich's endorsement helped elect Mr. Austin to Council office in 2012, along with support from organized labor. Ms. Gabelich has kept a publicly low profile in the 2016 race...until now. In her March 15 email, she wrote:

[Gabelich email text] What pushed [Ms. Angel] into the arena was the 9-0 council vote led by Councilmember Al Austin to approve the development of 131 homes at the Will J. Reid Boy Scout Park in the 8th district. A project that is too dense for a 10.5 acre parcel of land that should have remained open space. Mr. Austin gave zero consideration or discussion of what the area residents wanted to see happen. This was her "hot button".

Ms. Gabelich's decision to take a public position in the race also follows a Mar. 9 candidate forum at which significant differences surfaced between incumbent Austin and Ms. Angel and (from a different perspective) challenger Wesley Turnbow over safeguarding LB's Airport ordinance that protects the city from unlimited flights at all hours on all runways. [LBREPORT.com coverage here] In her email, Ms. Gabelich asked recipients "to be as generous as possible and help Laurie be seated as our next council representative...She's earned her wings."

Ms. Angel's grassroots fundraiser (Mar. 22, Phil Trani's, 3490 LB Blvd., 6-7:30 p.m.) comes as an independent expenditure committee has surfaced that since January 2016 has collected over $60,000 -- mostly in sizable sums from business, restaurant, hospitality and realty interests including several in Belmont Shore plus the company headed by former 3rd dist. Councilman Gary DeLong -- in an effort to elect Mr. Turnbow in the 8th district and Joen Garnica in the 2nd district. [LBREPORT.com coverage here.]

Incumbent Austin's campaign is supported by organized labor and has the endorsements of Mayor Garcia and Council incumbents Gonzalez, Price, Mungo, Uranga and Richardson.