Villaraigosa takes early lead in Los Angeles mayoral race

[JI7]

<LOS ANGELES - Antonio Villaraigosa took an early lead Tuesday night in the city's mayoral election, according to initial returns and a Los Angeles Times exit poll, as uncertainty loomed over whether incumbent James Hahn would capture the second spot in the expected May runoff.

Two other contenders, Bob Hertzberg and Bernard C. Parks, were also in contention for a place in the runoff, the returns and the Times survey indicated.

While the final tally remained unclear, the Times survey of voters leaving the polls Tuesday found Villaraigosa succeeded in expanding the electoral base he built in the 2001 mayoral election that he lost to Hahn in a runoff. A city councilman and former state Assembly speaker, Villaraigosa gained support among whites, Jews, blacks and Valley voters, while carrying the Latino vote by an overwhelmingly margin, as he did four years ago.

His support spread across the length and breadth of the city. He carried the west side and central city neighborhoods by large margins and ran close to even with Hertzberg in the Valley and Parks in south Los Angeles.

Still, Hahn clearly stood a chance of making the runoff, a potential rematch with Villaraigosa.>


http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/state/11088740.htm

[marcologico]

1. Looks like Diebold didn't get the L.A. municipal contract.

Or something! :)

[JI7]

2. it's an open race with all the major candidates if not all being Democrats

there isn't even that much difference between them on the issues. although people prefer some over the other for reasons such as Hahn firing the police cheif who is black and which angered the african american community. Hahn benefited from his father's popularity among african americans in his first race for mayor where he won most of those votes. Hahn also lost support among some in the valley who are angered with is opposition to secession of the valley from los angeles.

[marcologico]

3. Sure but Hahn is Mr. Dirty (take his crack pipe commercial) so

if he could have, he would have. :)

[JI7]

5. you are right, Hahn does play dirty

but i have to admit he has done a pretty good job as Mayor. i think he was right in that Parks needed to go as Cheif. but it might have been better if he was truthful about it before the last election. i think what most people didn't like was that he made it seem before the election that he had no problem with Parks only to turn around and fire and replace him.

he also did well in preventing secession of the valley.

but he does play dirty and i wonder how effective those ads will be this time around. he has made a lot of enemies.

i don't agree he would or could have messed with the voting system since he didn't do so well yesterday.

[K8-EEE]

4. I Voted For Antonio

My mom worked as a secretary for the L.A. City Attorney's office for 15 years and during that time she said he was one of the few players there that wasn't a total asshole to the underlings. She says he's a real stand-up guy and a hard worker.