Newport Beach Firefighters Assn. endorses Hill

The Newport Beach Firefighters Assn. has endorsed Rush Hill for Newport Beach’s Third District City Council seat, association officials confirmed Tuesday.

“He’s been involved in community projects, groups and committees for over 30 years,” said association president Brian McDonough. “We think he’s got a good understanding of where the city is, where it’s going and what it needs.”

Hill, a political insider in Newport Beach, is campaigning against Ed Reno, a pharmaceutical lobbyist with ties to Orange County’s Republican Party. The men are vying for Councilman Don Webb’s seat that represents the west side of Upper Newport Bay. Webb is termed out.

Both men were also endorsed by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa), who’s known Hill for years. Rohrabacher endorsed Reno because, unlike Hill, Reno didn’t receive any campaign funds from employee unions.

—Joseph Serna