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| Los Angeles mayoral election under way amid low turnout | Los Angeles mayoral election under way amid low turnout |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Los Angeles voters are dribbling into polling stations in an election promising the city's most sweeping leadership change in over a decade. | |
| None of the five main candidates for mayor have polled far ahead in the race to replace Antonio Villaraigosa. | None of the five main candidates for mayor have polled far ahead in the race to replace Antonio Villaraigosa. |
| Amid turnout as low as 20%, eight council seats and other top city hall posts are also on Tuesday's ballot. | Amid turnout as low as 20%, eight council seats and other top city hall posts are also on Tuesday's ballot. |
| The election comes as America's second-largest city faces budget problems and overburdened public services. | The election comes as America's second-largest city faces budget problems and overburdened public services. |
| The city lawyer, city controller and eight council seats are also on the ballot, as well as a proposal to raise the city's sales tax to 9.5%, one of the highest rates in the state of California. | The city lawyer, city controller and eight council seats are also on the ballot, as well as a proposal to raise the city's sales tax to 9.5%, one of the highest rates in the state of California. |
| Eric Garcetti, 42, and Wendy Greuel, 51 - both veterans of city hall - have been cited as mayoral candidates who might face each other in a run-off vote in May if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in Tuesday's election. | Eric Garcetti, 42, and Wendy Greuel, 51 - both veterans of city hall - have been cited as mayoral candidates who might face each other in a run-off vote in May if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in Tuesday's election. |
| But Democratic Councilwoman Jan Perry, 57, and Republican former prosecutor Kevin James, 47, could inch into a run-off if turnout remains very low, analysts say. | But Democratic Councilwoman Jan Perry, 57, and Republican former prosecutor Kevin James, 47, could inch into a run-off if turnout remains very low, analysts say. |
| Emanuel Pleitez, a 30-year-old technology executive, is seen as a long shot. | Emanuel Pleitez, a 30-year-old technology executive, is seen as a long shot. |
| Voting rates in Los Angeles have historically been low. | Voting rates in Los Angeles have historically been low. |
| Mr Villaraigosa was first elected in 2005. | Mr Villaraigosa was first elected in 2005. |
| The Los Angeles mayor must grapple with a powerful city council. And unlike in other US cities, the Los Angeles mayor does not have the power to make key city appointments such as police commissioner or school superintendent. | The Los Angeles mayor must grapple with a powerful city council. And unlike in other US cities, the Los Angeles mayor does not have the power to make key city appointments such as police commissioner or school superintendent. |