Two weeks after losing his 9th District seat to Steve Neal, 9th District City Councilman Val Lerch announced today that he is endorsing James Johnson in the 7th District race. Johnson is in a June 8 runoff with Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga. It is the only local race from the April 13 primary election to go to a runoff election.
Lerch told me Monday night that he is endorsing Johnson because he wants to maintain balance on the council and prevent it becoming too union-friendly. Neal is a longtime union member and leader who was endorsed by most of the major unions in the area -- the unions spent their own money and sent out an "army," as Lerch put it, of volunteers to campaign for him. Lerch was further stymied by having to run a write-in campaign to win a third term.
Uranga too ran a write-in campaign for a third term, but she was able to get enough votes to get second place, and Johnson fell about 5 percent short of the 50 percent he needed for an all-out win. Like Neal, Uranga is extremely pro-union -- likely the most pro-union member of the council. She too received strong union backing in the election, although Johnson shared some of the union endorsements as well.
"The exact reason why I'm not in a runoff is why Tonia is in a runoff -- the same people who came after me and defeated me are the ones backing her for her runoff," Lerch said.
Johnson also announced Monday that former 7th District Councilman Ray Grabinski is endorsing him as well.
Lerch told me Monday night that he is endorsing Johnson because he wants to maintain balance on the council and prevent it becoming too union-friendly. Neal is a longtime union member and leader who was endorsed by most of the major unions in the area -- the unions spent their own money and sent out an "army," as Lerch put it, of volunteers to campaign for him. Lerch was further stymied by having to run a write-in campaign to win a third term.
Uranga too ran a write-in campaign for a third term, but she was able to get enough votes to get second place, and Johnson fell about 5 percent short of the 50 percent he needed for an all-out win. Like Neal, Uranga is extremely pro-union -- likely the most pro-union member of the council. She too received strong union backing in the election, although Johnson shared some of the union endorsements as well.
"The exact reason why I'm not in a runoff is why Tonia is in a runoff -- the same people who came after me and defeated me are the ones backing her for her runoff," Lerch said.
Johnson also announced Monday that former 7th District Councilman Ray Grabinski is endorsing him as well.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
the army that elected uranga is indeed the same one that defeated lerch - it's the voters stupid. no amount of influence can change what a councilmember has done - or in val's case not done - for their district. just ask the firefighers who tried to remove uranga in 2006
Sour grapes Mr. Lerch.
Long beach had better see what the brown shirts/SEIU did this week tresspassi g on A private citizen's property with their Chicago mob mentality. Unions can destroy a city left untethered.