Candidates in heated Assembly races line up backers
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Two Democrats vying for the newly drawn 51st Assembly District seat each announced key endorsements this week. Nurses union official Jimmy Gomez of Echo Park landed the support of Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes, while Luis Lopez, president of the Los Angeles East Area Planning Commission, received backing from the Victory Fund, a prominent organization of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
In the recently reconstituted 66th Assembly District, Torrance Unified School District Board Member Al Muratsuchi announced his endorsement by state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance). Lieu joins a slew of other Democratic officeholders and activists in backing Muratsuchi. Republican Nathan Mintz, who ran unsuccessfully for a different, strongly Democratic South Bay-based Assembly seat last year, is making another bid for office here.
Mintz has announced additional endorsements, including those from Assemblyman Bill Berryhill (R-Ceres) and Redondo Beach City Councilman Steve Aspel. Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats in the new district.
Pasadena City Councilman Chris Holden has picked up endorsements from Claremont Mayor Sam Pedroza and Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz in his run for the newly drawn 41st Assembly District.
Reginald Jones-Sawyer, who is seeking the seat in the new, South Los Angeles-based 59th Assembly District, announced endorsements from state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry. All are Democrats. Jones-Sawyer is director of asset management for the city of Los Angeles. Several other Democrats are planning to run.
-- Jean Merl
