Council Candidate Touts List of Backers

Former state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa released a list Friday of elected officials supporting his bid to represent the 14th District on the Los Angeles City Council.

Villaraigosa, who is challenging Councilman Nick Pacheco in the March election, said he has secured the endorsements of Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-El Monte) and state Sens. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier), Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), Jack Scott (D-Altadena) and Richard Alarcon (D-Sylmar). He also cited the backing of Assembly members Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), Dario Frommer (D-Los Feliz), Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and Cindy Montanez (D-San Fernando).

County Supervisor Gloria Molina, civil rights leader Dolores Huerta and the county Federation of Labor have signed on to support Villaraigosa as well.

Many of the officials are expected to join the candidate at his Boyle Heights headquarters this morning as he officially kicks off his bid to represent the Eastside and parts of Highland Park, Eagle Rock and Mount Washington.

“Antonio grew up in the area, he went to school there, he knows what the needs are,” Solis said. “He’s the kind of guy who can see a problem and work with everybody to find a solution.”

While state officials dominate Villaraigosa’s endorsement list, Pacheco’s core supporters are mostly city officials.

Mayor James K. Hahn, who defeated Villaraigosa for the top city post in 2001, has endorsed the incumbent, as have the majority of the City Council, City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and former Mayor Richard Riordan. Also backing Pacheco are Rep. Xavier Becerra and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, both Los Angeles Democrats.