UPDATE | First District City Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez stated she will not be endorsing any candidate running for the Long Beach City College District Board of Trustees, despite official (false) claims of support from rival candidates Vivian Williams Malauulu and Irma Archuleta.

Gonzalez clarified her stance with the Post this morning. She has not, in fact officially endorsed any candidate besides Eric Gray.

Earlier this year, candidate Archuleta issued an official announcement that listed Lena Gonzalez among her supporters. Similarly, candidate Malauulu issued an announcement claiming Gonzalez’s official endorsement. Neither release included a statement from Gonzalez. 

This is not the first instance of a candidate claiming an endorsement when the organization/person in question did not officially endorse said candidate. The Post is currently investigating incidents of false endorsements from candidates citywide.

PREVIOUSLY: Gonzalez Endorses Malauulu for Long Beach City College District Board of Trustees; Archuleta Gets Backing From Mayor

On 03/07/16 at 10:33AM | In an announcement last week, First District Long Beach City

In an announcement last week, First District Long Beach City Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez endorsed Long Beach City College District Board of Trustees candidate Vivian Williams Malauulu for the vacant seat. Gonzalez’s endorsement comes after both Malauulu and rival candidate and incumbent Irma Archuleta have gained a number of prominent endorsements. 

Incumbent Archuleta has received backing from State senators Isadore Hall and Ricardo Lara, supervisors Don Knabe and Hilda Solis, Mayor Robert Garcia and former mayors Bob Foster and Beverly O’Neill, among others. In an interesting occurrence, a previous release stated she had also received Gonzalez’s support back in the fall. 


 

Meanwhile, Malauulu has racked up official endorsements from Gonzalez, Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) President Felton Williams, the California Teachers Association, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, State Assemblyman Patrick O’ Donnell, Long Beach City Councilmember Rex Richardson and the Long Beach Firefighters Association, among others. 

“I am proud to add Councilwoman Gonzalez’s name to my growing list of endorsements and look forward to working with her on the LBCC Trades Advisory Council to build a better, stronger working Long Beach,” said Malauulu, a professor at Long Beach City College, in a statement.

In her candidacy announcement, Malauulu stated she’d serve with “dignity and honesty” while also trying to shore up some of the civility issues that have persisted within the board.


 

Incumbent Archuleta was appointed to the board last year to fill the unexpired term of Roberto Uranga, who left the board to fill his current role as a member of the Long Beach City Council. She has promised to manage the district’s budget, “improve student success, increase transfer rates, and expand career training programs” if elected to a second term.