Los Angeles City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti has endorsed his former deputy Mitch O'Farrell in the race for the Los Angeles City Council District 13 seat. The news first came in a statement issued Thursday by O'Farrell's campaign.
It was confirmed Friday by Garcetti in a statement.
"Mitch O’Farrell is the best choice to carry on the work I’ve been doing in the 13th District. He deserves your vote," Garcetti said in the statement. "John Choi is a fine public servant with a track record of accomplishment. But Mitch brings unmatched experience in the district to continue our forward momentum."
The endorsement comes just days before O'Farrell faces off against former Public Works Commissioner John Choi in the city runoff election on Tuesday. The race has grown increasingly bitter with charges of voter fraud and race-baiting sometimes dominating the discourse.
Mike Shimpock, campaign manager for Choi, told Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch Friday afternoon that he does not believe that "this late in the game " the endorsement will "make much difference."
The endorsement is being used in a mailer landing this weekend at residences in Council District 13.
Choi still has the fundraising advantage over O'Farrell, with his $1.2 million coffer nearly triple that of his opponent, according to the Eastsider.
O'Farrell worked in the CD 13 office for nine years under Garcetti, eventually serving as his chief of staff. O'Farrell's campaign manager Renee Nahum told Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch that the endorsement Thursday was last-minute, but not a complete surprise, given the advance planning needed to create the mailer.
At least one Echo Park local feels the endorsement may benefit Garcetti as well as O'Farrell.
"This makes me want to vote for Garcetti even more," Dwain Wilson, Executive Director of the Echo Park nonprofit the Wildwoods Foundation and a long-time O'Farrell supporter, told Patch just minutes after the news."This shows Garcetti is loyal to the people who have helped him."
Councilmember Tom LaBonge, whose District 4 covers parts of Silver Lake, had endorsed O'Farrell in March.
"I've very proud of Eric," he told Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch. "I've lived in Silver Lake almost all of my life and I think it's important to have someone who knows the district on the council," referring to O'Farrell's long history working and, often, living in the area.
Earlier this week O'Farrell also received the endorsement of Ed Reyes, who represents Council District 1, which covers parts of Echo Park.
Echo Park-Silver Lake Patch has also reached out to the Choi campaign for its endorsement.
O'Farrell said in a statement he will comment on the endorsement at a press conference Friday at 9:15 a.m. at a production facility in Hollywood.
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