Dennis Zine endorsed by Gloria Molina in L.A. controller’s race

City controller hopeful Dennis Zine picked up an endorsement from Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina on Thursday and said the nod would be a “huge plus” in helping him win support among critical Latino voters.

Molina, the sole Latina on the powerful board of supervisors, said Zine’s three decades on the Los Angeles police force and 12 years as a city councilman show he’s “dedicated to protecting and serving the public.”

“I also admire Dennis’ commitment to use the controller’s office to promote civic transparency and accountability that will continue to instill pride and confidence in our city government,” Molina said in a prepared statement.

Molina has broken barriers throughout her political career. She was the first Latina elected to the City Council and to the Legislature and then became the first Latina to be elected as a supervisor.

She joins other prominent Latino leaders in endorsing Zine’s campaign, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Sheriff Lee Baca, fellow City Councilmen Eric Garcetti, Jose Huizar and Ed Reyes, U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Panorama City), state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), state Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and City Councilman-elect Felipe Fuentes.

Zine represents the northwest San Fernando Valley on the council. He and lawyer Ron Galperin are competing to replace Controller Wendy Greuel, who is running for mayor, in the May 21 runoff election.

Galperin, a city commissioner, is touting his own slate of backers, including state Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) former City Controller Laura Chick and the Spanish-language newspaper La Opiñion.

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Twitter: @csaillant2

catherine.saillant@latimes.com