Assemblyman Paul Krekorian won 56 percent of the vote yesterday to defeat former Paramount Pictures executive Christine Essel in a heated Los Angeles City Council race.
The election was noteworthy because of the volume of huge checks written for a non-citywide special election that saw predictably dismal turnout. A record-breaking more than $1 million was spent by independent groups, with Essel's backers pouring about $900,000 in independent expenditures to support her and attack Krekorian.
"Today, the voters of CD2 demanded profound change and soundly rejected the domination of this city by Downtown insiders," Krekorian said in a statement. "This victory is the beginning of a fundamental transformation of the government of Los Angeles, and it sends a strong signal that the people of the San Fernando Valley are not satisifed with business as usual. The task now ahead of us is to build a city government that will work for the people and that is marked by integrity, honesty and accountability"
In all, about 19,000 votes were cast, with about 11,000 of those ballots cast by mail -- a total turnout of about 15 percent of eligible voters.
Krekorian, a Democrat, served as assistant majority floor leader and as chair of the Assembly's ethics panel. Before being elected to the lower house in 2006, he was a member of the Burbank Board of Education.
Krekorian, who lived in Burbank, moved to Valley Glen to run for the seat, a spokesman said.
Once Krekorian officially gives up his Assembly seat, the governor will have to call a special election for the 43rd Assembly District. Krekorian's departure marks the fifth state legislative vacancy this year.
Click here for the full results.
Photo: Krekorian speaks at his victory party Tuesday night. Credit: Ed Gutentag/Krekorian campaign.
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