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How Latino voters go could obviously be a big factor in deciding the next mayor, especially if the Latino vote falls heavily toward one candidate. Controller Wendy Greuel took a big step on Monday, announcing the endorsements of State Sen. Alex Padilla, the former president of the City Council when Greuel was there, and Congressman-elect Tony Cardenas, who is on the council now. They are both from the Valley, as are Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes and Assemblyman-elect Raul Bocanegra, who also joined the Greuel campaign. That's not good for mayoral hopeful Eric Garcetti, who is describing himself to voters as a native of the Valley and the only major candidate in the race with Latino heritage.
United Farm Workers union legend Dolores Huerta and Councilman Jose Huizar also signed on publicly with Greuel on Monday. "I worked with Wendy on the City Council and whether it was making the City more business friendly or fixing our streets, she has shown that she knows how to get Los Angeles back on track,” Huizar said in a statement.
Also included in Greuel's Latino release were LAUSD board ember Nury Martinez; Gisselle Acevedo Franco, former president and CEO of Para Los Niños; Tania Aguilar, editor of La Voz Libre; Ruben Guerra, chairman of the Latin Business Association; Martha Diaz-Aszkenazy, chair of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley; Dina Cervantes, president of San Fernando Valley Young Democrats; and others. Here's the release.
