The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13, which represents workers in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, has endorsed L.A. Councilwoman Janice Hahn for lieutenant governor.
Hahn, the sister of former L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn and daughter of the late County supervisor Kenneth Hahn, represents the San Pedro area. She is seeking the Democratic nomination for the state's second-highest office on June 8.
"Councilwoman Janice Hahn, from day one, knew the issues of the port and making sure working men and women had quality jobs," said George Lujan, president of ILWU Local 13. "She knows how ports are supposed to be operated and we are excited to support her in her bid for lieutenant governor."
Hahn has longstanding ties with harbor-area labor groups. The ILWU chapter represents close to 20,000 part- and full-time longshore workers, who load and unload cargo at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The local is the West Coast's largest.
The state's No. 2 position is unfilled. In November, former Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who was facing term limits, won a Northern California Congressional seat.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named state Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, to the post, but the appointment has not been confirmed. The state Senate plans to hold confirmation herings next week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.
Regardless of what happens with his nomination, Maldonado is expected to run in the Republican primary for the seat in June. Other expected GOP contenders include state Sens. Sam Aanestad of Grass Valley and Dean Florez of Shafter.
For the Democratic nomination, Hahn is expected to face Sen. Dean Florez of the Central Valley.
