Long Beach First District Councilmember Lena Gonzalez has endorsed Eric Gray for Long Beach’s Second Council District, according to an announcement released Friday.

Gonzalez said she was endorsing Gray due to his proven leadership of the neighborhood and his vision for the Second District.

“I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with him on community projects in the downtown Long Beach area, and I know firsthand how dedicated and passionate Eric is for his community,” she said in a statement. I’m confident that he is the best leader for the 2nd Council District, and I look forward to working with him once again on the Long Beach City Council.”

Gonzalez currently works full time as the Community Development Specialist for Microsoft Stores in Cerritos, working to incorporate tech education and resources to underserved communities and tech startups in the South Bay. 

“It is a unique honor to have the endorsement of a devoted civic leader like Councilmember Gonzalez,” said Gray in a statement. “Throughout her public service career, Lena has worked tirelessly to make a positive difference in the First District, and it has been a privilege to work with her in these efforts.This endorsement is particularly special because of our great working relationship to move Downtown Long Beach forward, and I look forward to continuing a legacy of service to Long Beach with Councilmember Gonzalez on the City Council.”

Gonzalez joins Assemblymember (and former councilmember) Patrick O’Donnell, former Long Beach mayors Val Lerch and Bob Foster, as well as the Long Beach Police Officers Association and the Sierra Club. He’s garnered a few labor endorsements as well, notably the Heat and Frost Insulators Union, Local 5, and United Association Local 250. For a full list of endorsements, click here. 

 

Eric Gray is a small business owner, a longtime resident of the second district and an active neighborhood volunteer who currently serves as President of the Downtown Residential Council. Gray also co-founded the Historic Pine Avenue (HOPA) Business Association that helped spur the avenue’s recent growth. Eric is a Friends of Bixby Park board member, belongs to both the Long Beach and Long Beach Lambda Democratic Clubs and is an alumnus of Leadership Long Beach, according to the announcement.

 

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].