A long list of high-profile Hollywood writer-producers — including Judd Apatow, Greg Daniels (“Parks and Recreation”), “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner and “The West Wing” showrunner John Wells — are backing Patric Verrone‘s campaign for the state Senate.
“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane and Richard Lewis announced their support last week.
Verrone, who won a two-year seat on the WGA West board in September, disclosed his candidacy to fellow writers in a March 15 email that included a pitch for funds. He’s best known for leading the WGA’s strike in 2007-08 and has worked on “Futurama,” “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “The Larry Sanders Show” and “The Simpsons.”
The endorsement was included as part of a pitch to attend a fundraiser Thursday hosted by John Bowman, Verrone’s college roommate, who headed the WGA negotiating team during the strike.
Current WGA West president Chris Keyser and negotiating committee chiefs Billy Ray (“Captain Phillips”) and Chip Johannessen are among the endorsers, along with “Twilight” screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and “Simpsons” writers Al Jean and Ian Maxtone-Graham.
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Other endorsers include James Duff, Robert B. Garant, David A. Goodman, Lisa Henson, Jay Kogen, Carol Mendelsohn, Ed Redlich, Phil Alden Robinson, Lev Spiro, Shawn Ryan, Tom Schulman, Tom Spezialy and David N. Weiss.
The former WGA West president is one of eight candidates who have filed to succeed Democrat state Sen. Ted Lieu, who is running for the congressional seat of retiring Rep. Henry Waxman.
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