1:45pm | The vote to decide a winner in the 7th District run-off City Council race is just under one month away, and things are beginning to heat up.
Today, Mayor Bob Foster announced his support for challenger James Johnson over termed-out incumbent Tonia Reyes Uranga, who has served in the seat since 2002. Johnson and Reyes Uranga entered into the run-off race after they were the two top finishers out of four in April’s general election. Johnson received more votes, but neither received more than 50% of the vote, enacting the run-off.
Mayor Foster’s support of Johnson was perhaps the worst-kept secret in the city, but today’s announcement makes it official.
“James Johnson has the experience and leadership we need on the Long Beach City Council,” Foster said. “I know James will always put the neighborhoods of the 7th District first and get right to work on important issues like balancing the City budget, fighting to clean up air pollution from the ports, and creating quality jobs.”
Johnson is currently the Assistant City Auditor and grew up in the district before leaving to attend Harvard and then Cal Berkeley for graduate school. He was recruited away from a high-paying accounting job to join the City, then announced last year his intention to run for City Council.
Reyes Uranga is well-known by her constituency and has earned a reputation as a fierce defender of the environment and blue-collar workers through her work with unions. Running as a write-in candidate to win a third term, Reyes Uranga forced the run-off election despite not having her name on the April ballot. Name recognition could help her considerably in the June election, but will Johnson receive a boost with the support of the mayor?
“I am proud to have earned the endorsement of hundreds of community and neighborhood leaders from all parts of the 7th District,” Johnson said in a statement. “Today I am honored to have the support of Mayor Foster, and I look forward to working together with him towards a better Long Beach.”
Recently, 9th District City Councilmember Val Lerch also voiced his support for Johnson, citing Reyes Uranga’s connection to local unions as one of his main reasons. Lerch was also seeking a third term in April, but was defeated outright by challenger Steve Neal who benefited greatly from union support.
UPDATE: Shortly after the Mayor’s announcement, 5th District City Councilmeber Gerrie Schipske announced she would endorse Reyes Uranga in the race, and released a statement which reads in full below:
“I have known and worked with Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga for over twenty-five years and I admire her dedication and commitment to the working men and women of her community and our city. She and I discuss many issues facing this city and in each of those discussions I hear her passion and concern that her residents receive the services they need. She is a fighter for good jobs, a healthier environment and a city government that cares and listens to the people. I am proud to call her a friend and to endorse her for re-election as the representative of the 7th Council District. The City of Long Beach needs more independent thinkers on our city council such as Tonia.”