California Assembly: Endorsements from civic leaders, pols and labor

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When it comes to gathering backers, candidates seem to have a preference for environmental and civic leaders, labor groups and elected officials -- or at least the Democrats who dominate Los Angeles-area campaigns do. Just look at this week’s sampling of endorsements in next year’s Assembly races:

-- Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) scored endorsements from about a dozen environmental leaders, including actor Ed Begley Jr. and Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board. Not to be outdone, her main competitor for the newly drawn, Westside-based 50^th Assembly District, activist Torie Osborn, signed up 75 “influential women leaders,” among them Becca Doten, treasurer of the Women’s Caucus of the California Democratic Party, and a slew of current and former lawmakers, including Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblywoman Julie Brownley (D-Santa Monica).

-- For the new 51^st District, based in northeast Los Angeles, Assemblyman Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) added his name to the list of those backing labor leader Jimmy Gomez. Assemblyman Rich Gordon (D-Menlo Park) endorsed one of Gomez’s several competitors for the seat, Luis Lopez, who is president of L.A.’s East Area Planning Commission. Both candidates are Democrats.

-- In the San Fernando Valley’s new 46^th District, charter school executive Brian C. Johnson, a Democrat, touted his endorsement by former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, a Republican known to break party ranks if he likes a candidate. One of Johnson’s several Democratic competitors, businesswoman Laurette Healey, added 20 “high-profile Valley leaders” to her list of supporters, among them Robert Cohen, president of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, and Krisna Crawford-Velasco, treasurer of Latino Democrats, San Fernando Valley.

-- Former Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez announced two fellow Democrats will chair his bid to return to the Legislature’s lower house from the open seat in the 57^th District, where Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) is termed out and is endorsing his son, Ian. The elected officials co-chairing the Bermudez campaign are Rep. Grace Napolitano of Norwalk and Assemblyman Tony Mendoza of Artesia.

-- California Democratic Party Secretary Reginald Jones-Sawyer added Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) and the National Assn. of Letter Carriers Branch 24 to his supporters. This will be Jones-Sawyer’s second try for an Assembly seat in as many years, this time from the newly drawn 59^th District in Los Angeles.

-- John Tran, former mayor of Rosemead and current member of the El Monte Union High School board, has received endorsements from three former El Monte police chiefs: Wayne C. Clayton, Bill Ankeny and Ken Weldon. Tran, a Democrat, is one of several likely candidates for the open 49^th District seat, where Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) is termed out.

On the Republican side, Lake Elsinore City Councilwoman Melissa Melendez has received backing from Assemblyman Jeff Gorrell (R-Camarillo). Melendez, a Navy veteran, is one of several candidates hoping to replace Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Riverside), who must step down because of term limits, in the 67^th District.

-- Jean Merl