Election - Council Districts & Charter Amendments

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After at least 40 debates, and a last-minute siege of negative advertising, it's decision time for LA voters. Only a few points separate the six leading candidates. Unless one of them scores 50 percent plus one vote, the two frontrunners will square off in a June 5 runoff. KCRW's Eric Roy details the coalition building efforts of Xavier Becerra, Antonio Villaraigosa, Steve Soboroff, Kathleen Connell, Joel Wachs, and James Hahn. Political scientist Eric Shockman looks at what's at stake as LA moves on from eight years of Richard Riordan. (Kyle McKinnon guest hosts.)
  • Newsmaker #1: State Purchase of Edison Power Grid - Late today Governor Davis struck a deal with Southern California Edison to purchase the utility's transmission lines for 2.76 billion dollars. The money would help the nearly bankrupt company restructure its debt. Harvey Rosenfeld, who's with a Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group, has been tracking the state's energy woes.
  • Newsmaker #2: Ballot Box Primer - Got Chads? - If you're voting in LA's primary tomorrow, don't leave any hanging chads! You'll probably be using the very same type of machine used in Florida last year to help select a president. In an election that could turn on just a few votes, it's important that every vote count. We hear more from Los Angeles City Clerk Mike Carey.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Council Districts 1, 13, 15 and Charter Amendments 1 & 2 - We look at three council districts tonight with incumbents who've been termed out or moved on to higher office. Jim Newton, of the Los Angeles Times, looks at competitive races in Districts 1, 13, and 15, as well as two city charter amendments that will be before the voters.

Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights

LA Charter Amendments

LA City Council Districts

Little Hoover Commission

Los Angeles Times

Southern California Edison

State of California

Chads

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton