(May 6, 2004) -- Businessman Terry Jensen, who finished third in last month's 8th district City Council race, has announced he is endorsing Rae Gabelich in the June 8th runoff for the 8th district Council seat now occupied by incumbent Rob Webb.

"My decision to endorse Rae, which I reached following careful and thoughtful deliberation, is consistent with my principles, my campaign statements and without question is in the best interest of the people that I care about, the residents of the 8th district and the city as a whole," Mr. Jensen said in a release issued by the Gabelich's campaign.

Mr. Jensen added, "I will be contacting my supporters and contributors to encourage them to join me in the support of Rae's campaign."

His announcement comes roughly a week after the LB Police Officers Association, which helped unseat 4th district incumbent Dennis Carroll in April, announced it is endorsing Ms. Gabelich to replace Webb in June.

In the April 13 primary, Mr. Jensen drew 23% of the votes and Ms. Gabelich received 32%....a combined total of 55% of votes cast against the reelection of incumbent Webb who drew barely 40% of votes cast.

The release quotes Mr. Jensen as saying incumbent Webb "has failed to decisively address the many challenges facing our disrict and the city, including a massive $105 million budget deficit, deferred maintenance, airport expansion, deteriorating commercial properties and growing gang problems and graffiti. That is why it is time for change."

Ms. Gabelich, who founded the airport monitoring group LBHUSH2 and ran a grassroots campaign stressing neighborhoods and quality of life issues, came within roughly 300 votes of Webb in April. The two face a showdown runoff on June 8.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, the LB Police Officers Association cited Ms. Gabelich's "history of effective community organizing and keen grasp of the issues facing the 8th District and the City of Long Beach" as the reasons for supporting her candidacy.