Tom LaBonge Endorses Eric Garcetti for Mayor

Eric Garcetti's campaign for mayor got an important endorsement Thursday morning from fellow councilman Tom LaBonge.

"Eric Garcetti has skills," said LaBonge, "To work with people and to make things happen in neighborhoods throughout the district and the city."

LaBonge made the endorsement at the Silver Lake Meadow, a project he and Garcetti worked on together.

LaBonge emphasized Garcetti's ability to deliver on projects like the Silver Lake Meadow, which was once a vacant field next to the Silver Lake Reservoir.

LaBonge also said it was a tough choice. He said he has also known Garcetti's opponent, Wendy Greuel, since Tom Bradley was mayor.

"I love Wendy Greuel and I have a history with Wendy, but I love Eric in this position," said LaBonge.

Garcetti too emphasized his long history work with LaBonge on projects like the Meadow.

"I am so proud that Mr. L.A. is behind our plan to rebuild L.A.," he said.  "There's no one who understands the pothole politics of L.A. better than Tom LaBonge."

LaBonge, like Garcetti, also lives in Silver Lake. The two share representation of the area.

But LaBonge's oddly-shaped district also includes parts of the San Fernando Valley, where Garcetti faces tough competition from Studio City resident Greuel.

Mitchell O'Farrell, who is running for Garcetti's open city council seat in District 13, was also at the event.

early this year, before gathering the highest number of votes in the primary.

He faces Echo Park resident John Choi in the runoff.