(May 11, 2004) -- Declaring he has lost faith in the incumbent's ability to effectively represent taxpayers, former Councilman Jeff Kellogg has announced his endorsement of Rae Gabelich for City Council in the June 8th runoff election for the 8th district Council seat he held for 12 years.

Kellogg represented the 8th Council district from 1988-2000 until his Council retirement due to term limits...and was replaced by Rob Webb, his former office aide.

"I believe that our current Councilmember has failed to protect our tax dollars and has mismanaged our City into a record budget deficit," said Kellogg, quoted in a release from the Gabelich campaign...adding "I have lost faith in Councilman Webb’s ability to be an effective voice for the taxpayers of the 8th District."

Kellogg said Ms. Gabelich "has proven that she is willing to work hard for the residents of the 8th District. She has been a strong voice in regards to the airport and its negative impact on our neighborhoods. She will take that same energy and determination to address the current financial crisis, protect taxpayers’ dollars and preserve our neighborhoods...Most importantly, Rae will bring the integrity to office that we deserve and in which we can all be proud. It is time for a change at City Hall."

After exiting the Council in 2000, voters (including many of his former 8th district constituents) returned Kellogg to public office by electing him to LB's Community College Board of Trustees (of which he is now president).

As previously reported by LBReport.com, on May 6 businessman Terry Jensen, who finished third in the 8th district Council race in April, announced he is endorsing Ms. Gabelich.

His announcement came 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.

Ms. Gabelich founded the airport monitoring group LBHUSH2 and ran a grassroots campaign stressing neighborhoods and quality of life issues. She came within roughly 300 votes of Webb in April.

The two face a showdown runoff on June 8.