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LOS ANGELES, June 8 (UPI) _ A controversial
measure that would reform Los Angeles' 75-year-old charter, give more power to the
mayor and less to the city council and create neighborhood councils and area planning
commissions appeared to be on its way to victory late Tuesday night.
With about 84 percent of the precincts reporting,
more than 119,000 voters (about 60 percent) had cast ballots in favor of the charter
reform measure, compared with 79,880 (40 percent) against it.
The measure was backed by Mayor Richard
Riordan, but opposed by City Council President John Ferraro and three City Council
members.
Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, one of the
opponents, said, "This mayor is not corrupt...Do you want to bet on that for
the rest of the century?"
Veteran City Councilman Nate Holden claimed
victory in his council seat runoff battle against the Rev. Madison Shockley about
two hours after the polls closed. Shockley had been endorsed by four of Holden's
council colleagues.
With more than 78 percent of the precincts
reporting, Holden has captured 8,861 votes (55.24 percent), compared with 7,178 (44.75
percent) for Shockley.
In other races:
_ Alex Padilla had the lead in the runoff
for the council seat that was previously held by Richard Alarcon, who's now a state
senator. With nearly 93 percent of the precincts reporting, Padilla had 67 percent
of the vote compared with 33 percent for opponent Corinne Sanchez.
_ Nick Pacheco had the lead in the battle
for the Los Angeles City Council seat being vacated by Richard Alatorre. With more
than 96 percent of the precincts reporting, Pacheco had 52 percent of the vote compared
to 48 percent for opponent Victor Griego.
_ Incumbent Los Angeles City School Board
member Barbara Boudreaux appeared to be losing her seat to challenger Genethia Hayes
of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Hayes had a lead of just less than
1,000 votes with 84 percent of the precincts reporting.
_ Two measures that would have increased
the number of members on the City Council were going down to defeat. With about 84
percent of the precincts reporting, 64 percent rejected a measure to increase the
council from 15 to 21 members and even more _ 66 percent _ disapproved of a measure
that would increase the council to 25 members.
_ Almost two-thirds of the voters approved
a measure that would create an advisory panel on reapportionment for the city's Board
of Education.
The City Clerk's Office says less than 14
percent of the city's 1.3 million registered voters turned out for the election.
A 15 to 20 percent turnout had been predicted.
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