Assembly race endorsements don’t take a holiday

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The Thanksgiving holiday didn’t slow the pace for state Assembly candidates seeking supporters.

Pasadena City Councilman Chris Holden, a Democrat who is running for the newly drawn 41st District, scored backing from the California League of Conservation Voters. With Assemblyman Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga) planning to seek reelection from a different district, the seat will be open for next year’s election and Holden is the only candidate so far to file a “statement of intention,” a step that is required before a candidate can begin raising money.

Endorsements rolled in for Los Angeles City Council aide Adrin Nazarian, who is one of several Democrats running for an open Assembly seat in the San Fernando Valley. Nazarian, chief of staff to Councilman Paul Krekorian, announced backing from state Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge) and Democrats for Neighborhood Action. One of his competitors for the newly drawn 46th District, businesswoman Laurette Healey, recently added to her endorsers list Nancy Pearlman and Kelly Candaele, trustees for the Los Angeles Community College District. Another rival, attorney Andrew Lachman, released a long list of supporters among Democratic Party leaders, including Alex Gallardo-Rooker, vice chairman of the California Democratic Party, and Dante Atkins, regional vice chairman of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

In the newly drawn 50th District on the Westside, Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) announced the unanimous endorsement of the California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus. The caucus is chaired by state Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and its members include Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). One of Butler’s rivals for the seat, Democratic activist Torie Osborn, racked up endorsements from several current or former members of the Legislature, including former Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg and former state Sens. Sheila Kuehl and Tom Hayden.

In the new 63rd District, which includes Bell, Hawaiian Gardens and Lakewood, Anthony Rendon announced support from several local elected officials, including South Gate City Clerk Carmen Avalos and South Gate Councilmen Henry C. Gonzalez, Gil Hurtado and Jorge Morales. Lynwood Mayor Pro Tem Jim Morton and Lynwood Councilman-elect Salvador Alatorre also endorsed Rendon, who is executive director of Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services. Two other Democrats also are eyeing the seat.

California Democratic Party officer Reginald Jones-Sawyer, who is running for a newly drawn, open Assembly seat in Los Angeles, recently announced endorsements from Los Angeles City Councilmen Bernard C. Parks and Tony Cardenas and the Communications Workers of America Southern California Council. Several other Democrats have said they plan to compete for the 59th District seat.

-- Jean Merl