UNTIL RESPONSE TEAMS CAN REACH THEM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> THE ELECTION FOR MAYOR IS THREE WEEKS AWAY AND COUNCILMEMBERS ARE STARTING TO PICK WHO THEY WANT TO WORK WITH DURING THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

THOSE THAT BACK TO EVENTUAL WINNER COULD BE IN POWERFUL POSITIONS THIS SPRING.

HEATHER JOINS US WITH MORE.

THERE IS A RACE FOR MAYOR AND ERASE FOR ENDORSEMENTS AND ENDORSEMENTS AMONG CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WHO LEADS?

>> Reporter: MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, SHE LOST THE BACKING OF HER CLOSEST ALLIES, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUSHING HER AGENDA THROUGH CITY COUNCIL.

TWO CITY CHAIRS ENDORSED SOMEBODY ELSE LAST WEEK.

BRANDON JOHNSON AND THE ZONING COMMITTEE CHAIR BACKED PAUL.

THAT IS PUTTING MORE OF A SPOTLIGHT ON HER COMBATIVE APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> THESE WERE ALLIES THAT WENT BACK TO THE BEGINNING WITH LORI LIGHTFOOT.

NEARLY HALF OF ALL OF THEIR FOLKS HAVE NOT BACKED.

ARE THEY TRYING TO HEDGE THEIR BETS?

>> Reporter: SURE, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE A RUNOFF IN APRIL AND THEN YOU CAN CHOOSE EITHER OR.

SOME OF THE OLDER PEOPLE ARE RETIRING AND RECEDING FROM THE STAGE BUT 4 OLDER PEOPLE APPOINTED RUNNING FOR THEIR FIRST FULL TERMS DECLINED TO ENDORSE THE MAYOR.

THE MAYOR SAYS THAT IS OKAY.

SHE THINKS THEY ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE JOB AND SHE HOPES THEY GET ELECTED EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT BACKING HER.

>> YOU WOULD THINK SHE WOULD HAVE MOST OF THEM IN HER POCKET.

DO THE ENDORSEMENTS MATTER?

>> Reporter: THEY MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO VOLUNTEERS OR MONEY OR BOTH.

THIS IS THE KIND OF ENDORSEMENT THAT CAN PROMPT VOTERS UNDECIDED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.

THAT IN A RACE