Advertisement

L.A. Now Live: Discuss L.A. mayoral, council election results

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Times political reporter Seema Mehta will join L.A. Now Live at 9 a.m. Wednesday to discuss the results of the primary election and look ahead to the next round of voting. City Councilman Eric Garcetti edged past Controller Wendy Greuel in Tuesday’s mayoral primary, emerging as the top vote-getter in one of the lowest turnouts in memory, moving the race to a May 21 runoff between the City Hall veterans.

Garcetti received 33% in an unofficial count of ballots, compared with 29% for Greuel, a four-point advantage that Garcetti said he would immediately begin to try building upon.

Advertisement

RESULTS: Los Angeles Primary Election

“I’m ready to get up as early as it takes,’’ Garcetti told cheering supporters gathered at Avalon nightclub in Hollywood late Tuesday as the primary results became clear. ‘Tomorrow we’re going to get up, we’re going to get to work, and we’re going to win this campaign.’

Greuel wasn’t conceding anything, telling her own supporters that she would emerge victorious by focusing on a plan for delivering core services that have been lacking, such as fixing Los Angeles streets and reducing emergency response times.

“We’re 11 weeks from making history, electing the first woman mayor,” Greuel said. “And, of course, the first mom.”

Los Angeles voters elected three new City Council members and returned two incumbents to office. Candidates in three other council races did not get at least 50% of the vote, and the top two finishers in those contests will face off in May.

Former Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield won 52% of the vote to win the 3rd District seat representing Reseda, Canoga Park and Woodland Hills. On the opposite side of the San Fernando Valley, former Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes squeaked past three challengers with 51% of the vote to win the 7th District seat representing Arleta, Pacoima and Sunland-Tujunga.

Advertisement

In the 11th District, Mike Bonin, longtime chief of staff to outgoing Councilman Bill Rosendahl, easily beat his competitors with 61% of the vote. Two City Council incumbents, Paul Koretz and Joe Buscaino, easily won reelection.

Three City Council races remain undecided. In the 1st District, former California Sen. Gil Cedillo, with 49% of the vote, will face off with Jose Gardea, outgoing Councilman Ed Reyes’ chief deputy. In the 9th District being vacated by Councilwoman Jan Perry, state Sen. Curren Price captured 27% of the vote and will face Ana Cubas, who received 24%, in May.

The most competitive council race was the free-for-all in the 13th District, representing the Hollywood and Silver Lake areas. Mitch O’Farrell, a senior advisor to the outgoing Garcetti, was the top vote-getter with 18%. He advances to the runoff against John Choi, who formerly sat on the city’s Board of Public Works. Choi received 16% of the vote.

Advertisement