Voter turnout is expected to be low for the mayoral primaries in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times political writer Jim Rainey didn't mince words when describing the typical Los Angeles voter. In a discussion on HuffPost Live Monday, Rainey claimed that Angelenos suffered "no social stigma" if they didn't know a single thing about local politics.
"If you don't even have an opinion or don't even know who the mayor is, you can go out and there's no social stigma attached to knowing nothing," said Rainey. "It's part of the local culture."
Unfortunately, voter turnout rates for LA's most recent mayoral races seem to validate Rainey's observation. When Antonio Villaraigosa first won his mayoral seat in 2005, only 28 percent of registered voters took to the polls, notes LA Daily News.
Twenty-eight percent seems low, especially when compared to LA's 51.6 percent voter turnout for the 2012 general election. However, Villaraigosa's first mayoral campaign was an historic one, and the turnout ended up dwarfing figures for his 2009 re-election: 17 percent.
Voter turnout for Tuesday's municipal elections is also expected to be very low.
So what gives? Pollster Dan Schnur of USC thinks that LA's 2013 mayoral race suffers from a lack of outsized personalities.
"You have to feel bad for them. They have debated 40 times," said Schnur to The Daily Beast. "It is like watching a very long and detailed spelling bee."
But could there be another way to encourage voter participation, besides praying for more inspirational (or kooky) candidates?
Yes, according to former LA City Controller Laura Chick. In a February op-ed for the LA Times, she noted that moving municipal elections to coincide with state or national elections would save the city money and encourage more people to vote for local issues that have a direct impact on their everyday lives.
Rainey pointed out that some critics claim local issues could get buried if municipal elections are moved to "on-years," but added, "I do think that with these paltry turnouts it would be good to do something to try and get more people to pay attention."
USC/LA Times' latest polls, released Sunday, show that Councilman Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel are statistically tied for first place (27 percent and 25 percent, respectively), while radio host Kevin James and Councilwoman Jan Perry are tied at 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Tech executive Emanuel Pleitez racked up just 5 percent.
In order to win the primary election, one person has to gain more than 50 percent of the vote. Given the most recent polls, it seems all but inevitable that the mayoral race will end in a runoff election, scheduled for May.
If you're voting in the primaries Tuesday, check out our cheatsheet and click through the slideshow below for information on all five candidates:
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Party: Democratic Platform: "Bringing practical solutions to the economic challenges that are holding our city back -- solutions like the structural pension reforms I've spearheaded to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers now and in the future; responsible budgeting that protects core city services; and key investments to make our neighborhoods stronger, safer, and attractive to jobs and businesses." -- campaign website Current Gig: Councilmember representing the 13th Council District (Atwater Village, Echo Park, Hollywood and Silver Lake) Donation Amount As Of First 2012 Filing: More than $1 million Quotable Quote: "I've seen shuttered storefronts transformed into thriving main streets, and I've seen dangerous streets reborn as some of the city's safest neighborhoods. We've nearly tripled the number of parks, given every student in my district access to an after school program, and deployed the city's first constituent services 'smart phone' application so you can report graffiti or a pothole from the palm of your hand." -- campaign website More Info: ericgarcetti.com
Party: Democratic Platform: As LA's city controller, Greuel has made headlines for exposing waste and fraud with her financial audits of the Memorial Coliseum, LA housing department and other city agencies. On her campaign site, Greuel writes, "It is time to increase accountability and transparency in our government. Please join me in this pursuit." Current Gig: Los Angeles City Controller since July 2009 Donation Amount As Of First 2012 Filing: $1.1 million Quotable Quote: "People just say, 'I'll vote for you for anything if you just repair Wilshire Boulevard'. " -- KNX 1070 via The City Maven More Info: wendygreuel.org
Party: Democratic Platform: As a councilwoman, Perry has emphasized policies and courted projects and businesses that will help bring jobs to her district, sometimes to the point of controversy. On her campaign site, she writes that she's running for mayor because, "I want to do more and believe that Los Angeles is and will continue to be a great place for investment and development. We cannot tax our way out of the recession we need to continue support investment that create the jobs that will do just that." Current Gig: Councilmember representing the 9th Council District (Parts of Downtown LA and South LA) Donation Amount As Of First 2012 Filing: $827,328 Quotable Quote: "In recent months, I have felt that we have drifted away from the kind of openness and frank discussion that has characterized this council, especially as it pertains to the future of council leadership, the council as an institution, and the future design for council districts." -- Jan Perry on her resignation from the City Council. She was protesting new district lines that separate Downtown LA from South LA, via the LA Times. More Info: janperry.com
Party: Republican Platform: James' top priorities include bringing jobs back to LA, balancing the city's budget and repairing infrastructure. In 2011, James told LA Weekly that he wants to be the first openly gay mayor in Los Angeles. Current Gig: Radio host for conservative talk show on 870 KRLA AM. The show runs from 12am to 3am. Donation Amount As Of First 2012 Filing: $154,253 Quotable Quote: "There's no doubt that if I became the first openly gay mayor of Los Angeles, it would help [the gay community] enter the mainstream in America even more." -- LA Weekly. More Info: kevinjamesformayor.com
Party: Democratic Platform: "I believe City Hall should listen and respond to the needs of every community. Our city is in trouble, and to save it, we need to raise our graduation rate, reform our pension system, and invest in our most under invested communities, that means South LA, the eastside, the East San Fernando Valley, and Pico Union, not just Downtown and in Hollywood." -- Emanuel Pleitez, in an email to HuffPost Current Gig: Board of Directors Chair for both the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF); citizen leader for No Labels, a movement to get Democrats, Republicans, and independents to work together; founder and executive producer of INSPIRA, an ongoing web series featuring Latinos' stories Donation Amount: $221,568.18 in contributions + $24,500 in personal funds + $299,265.00 in matching funds = $545,333.18 Quotable Quote: "I was at Goldman till November 7th. I remember watching the Congressional hearings into the financial crisis with some of my colleagues there. It was sad to hear the reactions from my friends. They were laughing at the questions asked by some of the members of the Finance Committee, mocking them because they didn't understand the details of how the banking system works. Yes, we need members of Congress who have expertise in finance. That's one of the reasons I'm running. But there should also be a level of respect for people who give themselves to public service--not the disconnect that exists now." -- Emanuel Pleitez quoted by HuffPost blogger Eric Greenberg More Info: pleitezforla.com
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