The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday endorsed former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel in the Los Angeles City Council Second District runoff election in December.

Essel emerged in second place with 28 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election for the San Fernando Valley seat vacated by Wendy Greuel, who won election earlier this year as City Controller. Essel will face top vote-getter and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank, in the Dec. 8 runoff.

The chamber’s political action committee took the action Wednesday.

“The committee was impressed by her extensive private-sector experience,” said chamber Chief Executive Gary Toebben in a release. “We feel she will be a strong leader in helping to improve the business climate and create good-paying jobs throughout the city.”

Besides her post with Paramount Pictures, Essel has served on the board of the Central City Association, which represents downtown Los Angeles business interests and which endorsed her in the primary. She also was appointed to the California Film Commission and the board of the Los Angeles city Community Redevelopment Agency.

Krekorian served as president of the Burbank school board before winning election to the Assembly. He has been a business, entertainment and intellectual property attorney for 20 years.

In the primary election, the chamber endorsed Los Angeles school board member Tamar Galatzan, who came in third.