Battle for 7th District May Double Voters

Up to 20% of Los Angeles’ 1.4 million registered voters are expected to go to the polls in today’s citywide election, with turnout possibly twice that in the hotly contested 7th and 14th City Council district races, city clerk officials said Monday.

Deputy City Clerk Kris Heffron said higher turnouts are possible in the northeast San Fernando Valley’s 7th District, in which Richard Alarcon vacated his seat to become a state senator, and in the Eastside’s 14th District, where 14 candidates are vying to succeed Richard Alatorre, who decided not to run for reelection.

“They are big races with a lot of interest, where a lot of candidates are out there knocking on doors enticing people to vote,” Heffron said.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to settle races for Los Angeles City Council, Los Angeles Board of Education, and the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.

Voters will also decide whether to approve Proposition 1, a $744-million bond measure for police and fire facilities.

Heffron said 20% is a good citywide turnout for a primary, adding that only 17% of registered voters went to the polls in the last similar election in 1995.

“There is interest being built by the candidates,” she said. “Potentially in the districts with the most active races--the 7th and 14th--[turnout] could go over 40%,” Heffron said.

There are 2,230 precinct polling places staffed by 9,000 precinct officers. The number of polling places has been cut by 100 from the last election, Heffron said.

The clerk’s office this year has a team of 100 workers available on standby.

Voters can find their polling place by looking on the back of their official sample ballot, or by calling the county, toll-free, at (877) 888-3891, or the city at (213) 485-3581.

Polling place problems can be reported by calling (888) 873-1000.

The hottest City Council race in the San Fernando Valley is in the 7th Council District, which includes much of the northeast Valley. Voters will choose among six candidates: civil engineer Raul Godinez II, youth services director Tony Lopez, housing agency manager Ollie McCaulley, legislative aide Alex Padilla, former Mission College consultant Barbara Perkins and health services agency manager Corinne Sanchez.

Two write-in candidates--Connie Acebo Rodriguez and Alfredo Urrutia Jr.--are also candidates.

In the 2nd Council District, Councilman Joel Wachs of Studio City is challenged by retired city employee John Joseph Bunte; Kathy Anthony, who runs a Sunland tailoring business; and marketing manager John Spishak.

In the 4th Council District, Councilman John Ferraro faces construction supervisor Benjamin Lucas.

In the 12th Council District, incumbent Councilman Hal Bernson is facing challenges from retired civil servant David R. Guzman Sr., business manager Howard Nussbaum, attorney Charles Rubel and journalist-homemaker Marilyn Stout.

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Election Day

Voters in the city of Los Angeles will go to the polls today to decide on eight CityCouncil and four school board seats along with other ballot measures. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.. Voters who want to locate their polling place or who have other questions may call the election division of the office of the office of the Los Angeles City clerk at(213) 485-3581.