Bill Clinton Endorses Wendy Greuel in L.A. Mayoral Race

On Monday, former President Bill Clinton endorsed Wendy Greuel for Los Angeles mayor. As city controller, Greuel's proven track record was the basis for Clinton's endorsement. Clinton believes that she is the right candidate to confront the city's problems.

"In her many years of public service in Los Angeles ... Wendy has personified good, honest and effective government, improving the lives of countless Angelenos while saving millions of their tax dollars," Clinton wrote in a letter obtained by the Los Angeles Times. "And she's not done yet. Los Angeles is a great city with equally great challenges, so it's vital that Angelenos elect a proven, creative problem solver to lead them. That's Wendy Greuel. I urge you to join me in supporting her for mayor of Los Angeles."

Clinton backing Greuel is not surprising; Greuel was an early and active supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, as well as working for the former President's administration at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

While announcing his support, Clinton referenced Greuel's work at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"When the Northridge earthquake struck -- causing so much loss of life and destruction -- Wendy sprang into action," Clinton wrote. "She helped deliver over a billion dollars in federal emergency aid to Los Angeles residents and worked around the clock to assist families who lost their homes."

Bill Clinton's kind words and show of confidence was "humbling" for Greuel.

"I am so incredibly proud to have the endorsement of President Clinton. I think part of what he said was that he has seen what I can do first-hand, that he knows the kind of leadership and the style of leadership I will bring to the city of Los Angeles," she said, recalling living at a Holiday Inn in Pasadena for six weeks after the earthquake to ensure that federal resources were reaching the people who needed them. "This is for me an incredible endorsement from someone who was a strong leader, who was an individual who brought us to a period of historic prosperity. He gets it and understands that cities are the core of our country and is endorsing me to lead Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city."

To take full advantage of Clinton's nod of approval, Greuel plans to email supporters on Monday morning to alert them about the endorsement, and then hold a news conference in the San Fernando Valley.