Business & Tech

Jackie Goldberg Makes No Endorsement in Council District 13 Race

The former Assemblymember who once represented Echo Park and environs says "I leave it to each of you."

Jackie Goldberg, a long-time Echo Park resident and political thought leader, declined to make an endorsement in the heated Council District 13 race last week.

In an email sent out Thursday, the former Assemblymember and City Councilmember outlined her recommendations on the many other city races up for a vote May 21, including Mayor.

But she failed to weigh in on who she thought should be the next person to represent her on the City Council: 

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For the first time in memory, I have no endorsement for my own council district.  Both John Choi and Mitch O’Farrell have things to recommend them; and both have shortcomings.  John Choi is the labor candidate, and has some impressive endorsements.  But Mitch O’Farrell has lots of grass roots support, and has worked for Garcetti in this district for years.  He, too, has impressive endorsements.  I leave it to each of you to figure out who best will serve our communities.

To be fair, Goldberg also kept her hands off the Districts 1 and 9 races, sticking to the city offices and propositions in her email.

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Goldberg has not been the only local politician reluctant to weigh in on the race.

Eric Garcetti, the current Council District 13 seatholder and mayoral candidate, remains uncommitted as well. Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch has spotted him being cozy with both campaigns of late. Garcetti also endorsed Jose Gardea last week for the Council District 1 seat, which covers much of Echo Park.

Meantime, the war of words that has embittered the Choi-O'Farrell campaign of late took the weekend off.

Choi and O'Farrell engaged in what at least one observer tells us was a very civilized conversation Sunday evening at a small outdoor ampitheater in a private home in Silver Lake.

See photos of that above.


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