Fargo announces endorsement, mocked by Johnson campaign

Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo sent out an advisory for a press event Thursday morning, saying she'd receive a formal endorsement from City Councilman Kevin McCarty. But before the event even happened, opponent Kevin Johnson's campaign poked a hole in it.

In the advisory for the event outside city hall, Fargo noted that McCarty's endorsement would mean that a majority of the eight-member council supported her bid for re-election, with four other council members scheduled to attend in a show of support.

"Heather is the leader to invest in our youth, the advocate for our neighborhoods, the champion for sustainability and clean air, and the fighter in our efforts to curb gun violence and make our streets safer," McCarty said in the advisory.

On Johnson's website, he lists endorsements from Vice Mayor Steve Cohn and council members Sandy Sheedy and Robbie Waters.

Within hours of the advisory, Johnson campaign manager Steve Maviglio sent a note to reporters pointing out that in April, Fargo said she had McCarty's support, even though McCarty later told news outlets he hadn't endorsed her.

"So where's the ‘news' here?" Maviglio wrote in his memo. "The mayor's and/or the council member's confusion about whether he's endorsed or not?"

He pointed out that both state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell had endorsed Johnson in the last week, and that more endorsements would come soon.

ELSEWHERE on PolitickerCA.com:

• Johnson calls for more money for police