There was no meeting of the Long Beach City Council on Tuesday night — never is on the last Tuesday of the month – but as if by habit local politicos threw their weight around, anyway.

Councilmembers Patrick O’Donnell and Val Lerch announced their endorsement of Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal in her campaign for the 54th District’s seat in the California State Assembly.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga – who is Lowenthal’s chief rival for the Democratic Party’s nomination in that race — was rockin’ the mic and rollin’ the Press-Telegram before a full house at the JayCees’ monthly Beer & Politics event at Gallagher’s Pub.

In the wake of the P-T’s latest round of downsizing — which this time dumped the publisher and managing editor, along with a big chunk of staff, making it a bureau of the Torrance Daily Breeze — Reyes Uranga last month authored a resolution directing Long Beach City Manager Pat West to reassess the money the city pays the paper every year for advertising and legal notices.

 Reyes Uranga explained and amplified her position Tuesday night, while the P-T’s veteran editorial page editor Larry Allison defended the paper’s actions. Former P-T publisher Ian Lamont was also on hand to provide some behind-the-scenes information about the ruthlessness of the paper’s corporate owner, Dean Singleton.

Lowenthal attended the Beer & Politics event, too, but did not speak. She and Reyes Uranga had both marched alongside increasingly scarce and desperate Press-Telegram workers Monday afternoon in protest of the company’s actions.

In canned statements provided in a press release, O’Donnell and Lerch explained their endorsements of Lowenthal by citing her commitment to education and her opposition to air pollution created by the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

“As a teacher myself, I am deeply impressed by Bonnie Lowenthal’s commitment to improving our public schools,” said O’Donnell, who teaches at Paramount High School. “Bonnie Lowenthal’s work on the Long Beach School Board helped turn around a struggling urban school district. Bonnie will be the champion our kids need up in Sacramento.” 

Said Lerch: “Bonnie Lowenthal has fought to reduce toxic air pollution from the Long Beach and L.A. ports, and as our assemblymember she will be able to do even more.”

The 54th Assembly District includes Long Beach, Signal Hill, San Pedro, Avalon, the Palos Verdes Peninsula and portions of L.A. County. It is the only district in that includes portions of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Tags: 54th Assembly District, Beer & Politics, bonnie lowenthal, California State Assembly, Dave Wielenga, Gallagher's Pub, Ian Lamont, JayCees, Larry Allison, Long Beach Press-Telegram, The District Weekly, Tonia Reyes Uranga, Torrance Daily Breeze