News

And the union's choice is ...
By Jason Gewirtz, Staff writer, Long Beach Press-Telegram 
11/11/2005
 
LONG BEACH The Long Beach Police Officers Association endorsement isn't officially out yet, but already it's drawing reaction.
Late Thursday, City Councilman Frank Colonna's mayoral campaign issued a two-sentence statement regarding the endorsement that certainly left the impression he won't get the police nod.

The statement's first sentence noted that Colonna will "continue to proudly support" the union. The second sentence made reference to the union's 2002 endorsement of Councilman Dan Baker, who finished second in the mayor's race that year.

"The Union did not support Mayor (Beverly) O'Neill in the last election, and she won in a landslide," the statement said.

Steve James, POA president, said the union won't make its decision known until Tuesday, but he conceded that the pick "apparently" is not Colonna.

Tracy Kittinger, a spokeswoman for candidate Doug Drummond, said the union has told Drummond that it's going with someone else as well.