Dymally, Horton Endorse Mayor

Mayor James K. Hahn, who is working to rebuild his support among African American voters, showed off new endorsements Friday from Assemblymen Mervyn Dymally and Jerome Horton.

Hahn’s challenger, City Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, picked up support from developer Richard Meruelo, who plans to spend more than $62,500 to back Villaraigosa.

Meruelo’s independent expenditure will pay for a mailer and a telephone campaign that will feature former Mayor Richard Riordan urging voters to vote for the councilman.

The Riordan mailer will be sent to Republicans, whom both Hahn and Villaraigosa are courting.

Dymally, a pioneering black Democratic lawmaker from Compton, who has been a congressman and a lieutenant governor, endorsed Bob Hertzberg in the March 8 election but said Friday that Hahn was his new “first choice.”

Horton, an Inglewood Democrat, did not endorse a candidate in the earlier race.

Both lawmakers represent voters in South Los Angeles.

Villaraigosa attended a fundraiser Friday morning held by leading city lobbyists, including Steven Afriat, Arnie Berghoff, Harvey Englander, Jeffrey Seymour and Ken Spiker Jr.

The $1,000-per-person breakfast reception was held at Berg- hoff’s downtown office. Among other clients, Berghoff represents Browning-Ferris Industries, which operates Sunshine Canyon Landfill.

Last week in San Pedro, Hahn attended a fundraiser held by lobbyists Gwen Butterfield, John Ek, Rob Katherman and Rudy Svorinich.

The two candidates will take part in a live debate at 8 a.m. today on KJLH-FM (102.3).