LA HABRA

City Council members said they will endorse one candidate in next year’s 72nd Assembly District race--an unprecedented move for the local government agency, officials said.

“Hopefully if we can endorse a candidate, we can have a meaningful impact on their race,” said Councilman G. Steve Simonian, who dropped out of the Assembly race in October.

Last week, the five council members interviewed four candidates campaigning for the Assembly seat. The 40-minute question-and-answer sessions touched on topics like candidates concerns for the community and the district and campaign financing.

The candidates who participated are Bruce Matthias, a former legislative aide to Sen. John Lewis; Brea City Councilwoman Lynn Daucher; Fullerton City Councilman Don Bankhead; and Cal State Fullerton professor of sociology Gangadharappa Nanjundappa. The fifth candidate, John Zamarra of Placentia, was unable to attend. Simonian, who spearheaded the Saturday morning session, said the council expects to announce its endorsement in a few weeks.