LONG BEACH -- County Supervisor Don Knabe on Tuesday endorsed Robert Garcia for City Council.
Garcia, a Long Beach City College administrator, is running for the 1st District seat vacated by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal. Knabe's supervisorial 4th District includes Long Beach.
"Robert will bring positive change and common-sense solutions to Long Beach, and I am proud to endorse him," Knabe said in a prepared statement. "His experience as a college educator and community leader make him uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges facing Long Beach and the region."
Though the race is non-partisan, Garcia, a Democrat, has picked up endorsements from the left, right and center. Knabe is widely considered a moderate Republican.
"Our campaign has the most diverse support in the race," Garcia said. "From community leaders and firefighters, to the Sierra Club and Chamber of Commerce, we are uniting the community behind our message of bringing positive change to City Hall."
Garcia previously was a registered Republican -- he worked for former Councilman Frank Colonna -- and an independent before becoming a Democrat. As a child immigrant from Peru, Garcia has said he initially identified with the GOP but grew progressive with age.
Election Day in the downtown-area 1st District is April 7. Also in the race are former Councilman Evan Braude, former small business owner Bill Grisolia, linguist Jana Shields, the Rev. Misi Tagaloa and jazz musician Rick Berry.
Garcia and Braude have the lion's share of high-profile endorsements, though Grisolia has picked up support from a few well-known unions.
[TAG1]john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
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Robert did not grow progressive. The leopard changed it's spots for the purpose of gaining votes. NOW, he panders to a war mongering public and a gay community that is too busy dancing to pay attention to Politics.