Former Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill has endorsed Vice Mayor Val Lerch's campaign for reelection in the 9th Dstrict, Lerch announced Monday.
"Val Lerch has shown outstanding leadership and representation for the 9th Council District," O'Neill said in a prepared statement. "His first concern has always been the 9th District and its residents. He has many projects started that need to be completed. He has my continued support."
O'Neill's endorsement carries considerable heft with voters. She is arguably the most popular politician in modern Long Beach and is the only in recent years to pull off what Lerch is trying to do: run a successful write-in campaign for a third term.
Election law prevents council members from putting their names on the ballot when seeking a third term unless they make it to a runoff.
O'Neill won her third term using images of pencils to remind voters that they needed to write in her name against former Vice Mayor Dan Baker, the only name on the ballot. Former 5th District Councilwoman Jackie Kell also ran a write-in campaign in 2006, but lost to now-Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, who is up for reelection in 2010.
Lerch is adopting a strategy similar to O'Neill's, stressing that hie is a write-in candidate on his campaign literature.
Lerch already has three challengers: Dan Pressburg, a financial consultant and Lerch's former staff member; Steve Neal, a social worker who lost to Lerch by 132 votes in 2006; and Brad Shore, a therapist and airline employee.
In Long Beach, the vice mayor title is an honorarium.
In addition to the endorsement, Lerch announced an upcoming fund-raiser.
The event, hosted by The INCO Co., will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 30 in the real estate firm's offices, 6621 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 280.
