With next year’s elections for some City Council seats still more than ten months away, the race in the Ninth District is already heating up. Never too early, right?

Last week, we brought you an interview with challenger Steven Neal and also made mention of Dan Pressburg’s intention to run. Today, incumbent and current Vice Mayor Val Lerch announced the launch of his new website to support his write-in campaign (Lerch has termed out and can seek reelection through write-in votes).

The site, writeinvallerch.com, features a statement from Lerch and instructions on how to submit a write-in ballot. The statement from today’s press release also hints that his campaign will make full use of the website:

At writeinvallerch.com friends, supporters, volunteers, contributors and endorsers can find out about upcoming events, fundraisers, signup to volunteer, or contribute to the campaign… The web and internet will be used by this campaign to its fullest.

Write-in campaigns are hardly a walk in the park, but Long Beach has had some experience with them in the past. Mayor Beverly O’neill was elected to a third term in 2002 through a write-in campaign after serving two previous terms.