Azusa councilman can’t use Solis endorsement

A recent acquisition against Azusa Councilman Robert Gonzales’ campaign has turned out to be half-true.

Rumors had been flying around that Gonzales was using an endorsement from Labor Secretary Nominee Hilda Solis at public forums and on his campaign mailer without the Congresswoman’s permission.

That has turned out to be half true.

Since receiving the nomination from the Obama administration for the position of Secretary of Labor, Solis has taken back all her local endorsements and will not endorse anyone further, according to a spokeswoman for Solis.

Here is the statement from Solis’ camp:

“Since the nomination of Congresswoman Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor-designee, all of her efforts have been focused on the confirmation and transition process. She has not endorsed and will not endorse any candidate. Endorsements that she made prior to her nomination were withdrawn and all endorsed candidates were notified,” said Sonia Melendez, spokesperson for Congresswoman Solis.

But Solis endorsed Gonzales in December and the councilman had prepared mailers and releases including that endorsement prior to her nomination, Gonzales said.

Once she received the nomination, members of her team said Gonzales could use what he had already made, but could not use her name in any new items, he said.

After Gonzales used the endorsement at a public forum, Solis’ team then asked not to use her name at all anymore. Out of respect, Gonzales will bite the bullet on one set of mailers not used and will no longer use the endorsement, he said.

“It is good for her she got the nomination, bad for the people she endorsed,” Gonzales said. “But that is OK.”