The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee (PAC) has endorsed Joen Garnica and Dee Andrews for the Second and Sixth District Long Beach City Council seats, respectively.

In a conversation with the Post earlier this week, Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Jeremy Harris said the Chamber would be sitting out the Eighth District city council race, but that the Chamber PAC was excited to endorse both Garnica and Andrews in their respective races.

“As a Long Beach Business owner and Neighborhood Association President, Joen Garnica has a deep understanding of the challenges that local employers are facing,” said the Chamber’s President and CEO Randy Gordon in a statement. “Over the years, we have worked closely with her to find creative ways to support our city’s unique businesses and strengthen our regional economy. We trust that Joen will be an effective and responsive Councilmember, and we are excited to announce our support of her campaign.”

Garnica, who lives in the East Village, also counts Lola’s Mexican Cuisine and The Pike Bar, former U.S. Representative Steve Kuykendall, former president of the Promenade Area Residents Association and founding member of the Downtown Residential Council Eric Carr among her endorsers. For a full list of endorsements, click here. She is running against Jeannine Pearce and Eric Gray. 


 

“As the only candidate who owns a business in Long Beach, I am grateful to have the LBACC PAC endorsement,” said Garnica in a statement. “I will bring my experience running a business in Long Beach for over 12 years to City Council. I will work to attract good jobs to the 2nd District while helping local businesses thrive.”

Another Chamber release detailed the organization’s support for Andrews.

“Dee Andrews is the best choice for The Long Beach Area Chamber PAC because he is committed to job creation, supporting businesses in his district, and building a strong business community in Long Beach,” said Gordon in a statement. “We ask that the residents of the 6th district to write-in Dee Andrews who has a proven record of results.”

“I am grateful to have the support of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce PAC,” said Andrews. “This organization recognizes the importance of building a stronger business community in Long Beach and I will continue to do my part by bringing new retail and commercial development into the 6th District.”

The Chamber joins Mayor Robert Garcia, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the Teachers Association of Long Beach and more in his write-in campaign for Long Beach City Council. For a complete list of endorsements, click here. Andrews is running against Robert Harmon, Erik Miller and Josephine Villasenor.