Endorsements Continue in Eastside Council Race

With the City Council runoff election less than a month away, the political endorsements continue to stack up in the fiercely contested race for the Eastside’s 14th District.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Los Angeles) said she will support candidate Nick Pacheco, who is also backed by Mayor Richard Riordan. Last week, Victor Griego received the endorsement of Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) and former candidate Juan Jose Gutierrez, who placed fourth in the primary with a strong showing in Boyle Heights.

The June 8 election will determine who will replace veteran Councilman Richard Alatorre.

Roybal-Allard said Pacheco has vision “to empower the community so it becomes a stronger district from within.”

Pacheco said the support of Roybal-Allard, whose family has a long history in the area, exemplifies his strong base in the community.

Cedillo said organized labor’s support for Griego played a big part in his endorsement.

“That’s a lot of families, a lot of working men and women . . . and the primary constituency I represent,” he said.

Griego, who has received the support of eight of the 13 candidates who lost in the April primary, said the latest endorsements indicate he is the most qualified for the position. The other three candidates eliminated in the primary have not endorsed anyone yet, Griego said.

“The endorsement battles are going to go back and forth,” said Phil Giarrizzo, Pacheco’s campaign manager. “Ultimately, it still winds up being about where the people in the neighborhood are at, not where the politicians are at.”