Greuel Edges Cardenas by 242 Votes

More than a week after the election, Wendy Greuel declared victory Friday over Assemblyman Tony Cardenas for the Los Angeles City Council’s 2nd District seat. A final tally showed her winning by 242 votes.

With 29,252 ballots cast, Greuel won 50.41% of the vote to Cardenas’ 49.59%, according to county Registrar-Recorder Conny B. McCormack, who said Friday’s tally includes all of the votes her office has been able to find.

Greuel, a 40-year-old Van Nuys resident, broke out the champagne with friends and family members after hearing the results at her office at the entertainment firm DreamWorks SKG.

“I am ecstatic that I won by 242 votes,” she said.

“I believe I was the underdog. I took on a seated incumbent state assemblyman. But I have been here all along, fighting for the Valley’s fair share.”

Although the campaign was one of the most bitter battles seen in local elections in some time, Cardenas (D-Panorama City) called Greuel on Friday to concede and wish her well.

The two spent a combined $1.7 million on the race for the east San Fernando Valley seat, with Greuel tapping entertainment industry leaders to out-raise her opponent.

Although disappointed to lose by a slim margin, Cardenas said he will not ask for a recount.

“It wasn’t a mandate for me and it wasn’t a mandate for her, but she won the election,” he said.

“She earned the right to represent the district and I wish her well.”

Cardenas, 38, will probably get another chance next year because a redistricting commission has proposed to split the 2nd District into two districts, with a new one having a heavy concentration of Latino voters. If that happens, Cardenas said, he will run.

“I want to serve on the City Council,” he said. “If the redistricting turns out that way, you better believe I will seek to represent that area.”

Greuel said she hopes to take the oath of office soon, although she may have to wait until the county certifies the results April 2 to officially assume the post.

She already has begun working on top priorities, including reopening a council field office in the Sunland-Tujunga area.

Greuel said she will hold community forums with city managers in the district.

“It is about making sure the community gets the basic services,” she said.

The vote tally released Friday was from a special election held March 5 to fill a vacancy created when Joel Wachs resigned from the City Council to head an art foundation in New York City. Wachs had represented the 2nd District for three decades.

Greuel campaign attorney Stephen Kaufman said a recount would not be wise because the margin of victory is unlikely to be overcome in a hand count of ballots.

Cardenas said he decided against filing a challenge, even though five precincts opened late on election day.

“This district has gone long enough without a council person,” Cardenas said.

“As an assemblyman who represents 40% of the council district, I look forward to working with Wendy.”

Election officials also said Friday that Proposition Q, the $600-million police bond measure, has extended its support to 66.83%, just over the two-thirds vote needed for passage, with possibly a few thousand ballots still to be counted.