Greuel, Garcetti Receive Big Endorsements
Video by Margaret Lenker
Both Los Angeles mayoral candidates Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti each received big endorsements Thursday afternoon.
In a push to secure the black vote, Garcetti received an official endorsement by one-time mayoral candidate Jan Perry while Greuel was backed by Los Angeles sports legend and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
Councilwoman Perry represents the 9th District, which includes USC, and carried the majority African American vote in South Los Angeles during the March 5 mayoral primary. Garcetti hopes to win over the 60,000 Angelenos that supported Perry for mayor during the May 21 runoff vote. Perry and Garcetti have been colleagues on the City Council for almost 12 years.
Eric Garcetti tweeted a statement from Jan Perry saying, "I spent the last two years seeing the candidates up close. It's clear that the best choice for mayor is Eric Garcetti. Eric has the independence we need to balance the budget. Eric will bring opportunity to South LA and accross Los Angeles."
In a press conference Thursday, Perry said that the people she brought out were "a small section of the people I can mobilize."
Garcetti hopes that the people who voted for Perry will "now know that this is a campaign thats independent that has proven track records of results."
Greuel also snagged the endorsement of Lakers great and Dodger owner "Magic" Johnson. Johnson joined Greuel on the steps of a Crenshaw church and formally announced his endorsement Thursday.
Greuel tweeted a statement from Johnson saying, "The nest mayor has the opportunity to make a huge impact on our city, and I'm excited to work with Wendy Greuel to create jobs and lift up communities throughout L.A."
Greuel also received endorsements from former President Bill Clinton and Los Angelse County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas this week.
Former mayoral candidate Emanuel Pleitez, who came in fifth in the primary, also backed Garcetti earlier this month. And third-place finsiher Kevin James says he's dissatisfied with both Greuel and Garcetti and won't endorse either.
