With the close of last Tuesday’s municipal primary has come a sharp focus on the June 7 General Election. In the Second District, this means a runoff between the primary lead Jeannine Pearce and runner up (by a thin margin) Eric Gray.
Feeding into the renewed campaign momentum is an endorsement from Councilwoman Suzie Price for Gray, his office announced today.
“I’m happy to support Eric Gray’s campaign for the 2nd District,” said Price in a statement. “Based on my many discussions with him, I believe that he and I are philosophically aligned when it comes to the public safety and economic development needs of the city. I believe that Eric will be a very collaborative partner in helping me [and] my colleagues accomplish some of our goals in regard to these two aspects of the city.”
Price has been a council member since 2014, and notably proved instrumental in dedicating $350,000 to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) to target residential burglaries, according to the release.
She has also established a small business recruitment, retention and growth pilot program for the city, according to her bio.
“I am very honored to have the support of Councilmember Price,” Gray said. “From the beginning this campaign has been about the issues facing the 2nd District and working together to create lasting change. I am grateful to have the support of Councilmember Suzie Price and I look forward to a spirited and positive General Election with her support.”
Price joins the Sierra Club, Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, Assemblymember (and former councilmember) Patrick O’Donnell, former Long Beach mayor Bob Foster, former vice mayor Val Lerch, as well as the Long Beach Police Officers Association in endorsing Gray. 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.
This report was updated on 04/18/16 at 10:49AM, correcting Val Lerch’s status as former vice mayor of Long Beach.