Once a rival, H. Spees now endorses Lee Brand for Fresno mayor

Holding true to a gentleman’s agreement, former Fresno mayor candidate H. Spees on Wednesday officially endorsed City Councilman Lee Brand for the November runoff against Fresno County Supervisor Henry R. Perea.

Brand and Spees made a deal before the June 7 election to support the other, no matter the outcome of the primary, in the November campaign. Spees finished third behind Perea and Brand, who was second, so Spees honored that agreement during a press conference at the Fresno Institute for Urban Leadership.

Spees said he remains committed to improving Fresno and said Brand “truly cares about the city.”

Brand said he was honored, humbled and excited to have the support of Spees. The two of them will work together on issues like public safety, substandard housing and education. Spees will chair Brand’s campaign steering committee. Brand described the endorsement as a “genuine partnership.”

Spees received 18.2 percent of votes in the primary, compared to Brand’s 30.8 percent. Perea received 44.7 percent of the ballots.

Perea, confident in his 11,000-vote lead over Brand, isn’t concerned about the two candidates merging forces.

“I’m happy for Lee,” Perea said. “I’m looking forward to November.”

Should Perea win, “I have told him that I will do whatever it takes to help him help Fresno,” Spees said.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Once a rival, H. Spees now endorses Lee Brand for Fresno mayor."