Senator Barbara Boxer and Councilman Bill Rosendahl joined Wendy Greuel Wednesday and a small

group of supporters to open a new office in L.A. as the primary mayoral election is drawing near. 

City Controller Wendy Greuel is running for mayor of Los Angeles against seven other candidates, including Councilman Eric Garcetti, Councilwoman Jan Perry and former federal prosecutor and radio host Kevin James. 

Councilman Bill Rosendahl showed up high-spirited with a walking frame to support Wendy Greuel. He was diagnosed with stage-four cancer last July and has been receiving treatment. The audience applauded, cheered and hoorayed as he was helped to the stage. 

“I’m not running for president; I’m not running for re-election,” he joked. “I am here because Wendy Greuel is a very special person.”

Councilman Rosendahl praised Greuel’s efforts in street repair and fixing the potholes in her council district.  

“I got to know Wendy as a former colleague and a friend. I know that Wendy is running to get the job done. There is no one who will work harder and who would be tougher than Wendy,” said Councilman Rosendahl.

“Wendy will fight to make sure all Angelenos are treated with dignity and respect, and have a roof over their head and a chance for good education and can live in a safe neighborhood,” he added. 

Wendy Greuel took the stage and expressed her appreciation of Councilman Rosendahl’s endorsement. “He is someone who has been a fighter for social justice. He has been a fighter for our community,” she said. “Bill, we love you. You’re an amazing gentleman. You’re a friend and part of my extended family.”

Greuel said she will “get Los Angeles back on track” by creating jobs, a seamless public transportation system and funding public school programs.  

“It’s unacceptable that 50 percent of our kids are dropping out of school; it’s unacceptable that we’re 47th in the country in per pupil spending,” she said. 

Greuel added she would continue her work in road repair and tackling the traffic issues in L.A. A common sense solution would be “no road construction during rush hour”, she said. 

Senator Barbara Boxer started with acknowledging Greuel made a “lasting impact” on LA’s BEST, an afterschool program that provides a safe environment for children, during her service in Mayor Bradley’s

office. Senator Boxer accolade Greuel for her work in delivering aid to homeless people during the 1994 Northridge earthquake and keep the traffic going. 

Senator Boxer brought T-shirts bearing “women 2012 out of the binders, into the voting booth” as a gesture of support of strong women. 

“It is time, folks. We have waited long enough,” she said. “We’re not saying ‘Vote for Wendy’ because she is a woman, we’re saying ‘Vote for Wendy’ because she is the best qualified candidate for the job.” 

If Wendy Greuel were elected, she would be the first woman elected the mayor of Los Angeles.

A primary election will be held on March 5, 2013. If no candidate gets the majority of votes, the top two finalists will enter the general election in May. 

 

Reach Senior Staff Reporter Gracie Zheng here.