Feb. 04--Switching his alliance, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Wednesday that he is backing Councilmember Nury Martinez's bid to win reelection to her seat representing Van Nuys, Arleta and Sun Valley.
Garcetti supported Martinez's rival, former state lawmaker Cindy Montanez, when the two women faced off in a special election in July 2013. But he's changed his mind this time around.
"Nury Martinez has done an incredible job of restoring our Valley neighborhoods, by working to repair roads, clean up graffiti and crack down on prostitution," Garcetti said in a prepared statement. "She proven that she's the best candidate for City Council."
Eric Hacopian, campaign manager for Montanez, called the endorsement "no surprise."
"This has always been a race between Nury Martinez and the downtown political establishment supporting her, and Valley residents supporting Cindy Montanez," he said. "This is a contrast we will take any day."
The two are competing in the March 3 election.
