Molina Endorses Griego for City Council Race

City Council candidate Victor Griego, who already has endorsements from several state and local politicians, picked up another one Wednesday, when Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina announced that she will support him.

Molina, who met and interviewed many of the candidates in the 14th District, has said the decision was a particularly difficult one because she knew most of the candidates personally and has a high opinion of many of them.

But she said Griego’s longtime community service in the district led her to endorse him.

Griego, who has the support of state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and state Sen. Richard Polanco, both Los Angeles Democrats, also picked up the backing of state Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks).

“I feel very honored,” Griego said. “People kept asking what’s Gloria going to do? Many voters asked me if I had Gloria Molina’s endorsement.”

Not all area Democrats are backing Griego, however. Assemblyman Gil Cedillo is supporting Juan Jose Gutierrez, and Rep. Xavier Becerra is backing Nick Pacheco, as is Mayor Richard Riordan. Councilman Richard Alatorre has been backing Luis Cetina, but has not made an official endorsement. Organized labor support also has been spread among the candidates with Cetina winning the key city union, the Service Employees International Union.

Griego, who has spent weekends with volunteers cleaning up neighborhoods in different sections of the district, appears to be leading the pack in fund-raising for the race to replace Alatorre. He has been a community and political organizer in the district.

In all, 14 candidates are attempting to win the Eastside council seat in the April 13 primary election.