1993 Los Angeles mayoral election

1993 Los Angeles mayoral election

April 20, 1993 (1993-04-20) and June 8, 1993 (1993-06-08)

Candidate Richard Riordan Michael Woo Joel Wachs First round 158,527 33.42% 113,913 24.01% 52,221 11.01% Runoff 314,559 53.94% 268,137 46.06% Eliminated   Candidate Richard Katz Linda Griego First round 46,163 9.73% 34,227 7.22% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Mayor before election Tom Bradley Elected Mayor Richard Riordan

The 1993 Los Angeles mayoral election took place on April 20, 1993, with a run-off election on June 8, 1993. This was the first race in 64 years that an incumbent was not on the ballot. It marked the first time in 24 years that retiring Mayor Tom Bradley was not on the ballot, after five consecutive victories starting in 1973.^[1] Richard Riordan became the first Republican mayor elected in 36 years.

Municipal elections in California, including Mayor of Los Angeles, are officially nonpartisan; candidates' party affiliations do not appear on the ballot.^[2]

Election

After the retirement of Tom Bradley, the seat was open for the first time since the 1929 election when incumbent George E. Cryer retired. Many city council members ran for the post, including Michael Woo, Joel Wachs, Nate Holden, and Ernani Bernardi. Other local area politicians, including Assemblyman Richard Katz, Deputy Mayor Linda Greigo, and Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioner Richard Riordan.^[3][4]

Riordan spent $4.2 million during the campaign, with much of the donations to him from the more conservative San Fernando Valley, Westside, and Harbor area.^[5] In the primary election, Riordan and Woo advanced to the runoff.^[6]

Riordan and Woo criticized each other over their ability to fight crime and about the economy, with Riordan calling Woo a career politician and Woo saying that Riordan was a "symbol of 1980s greed."^[7][8] In the runoff election, Riordan defeated Woo, with the Jewish population in Los Angeles seen by some as the defining factor for Riordan's win.^[9] Some newspapers also said that Riordan's hiring of gay staffers helped bolster the vote from gay and lesbians in the city as well.^[10]

Results

Primary election

Los Angeles mayoral primary election, April 20, 1993^[11]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard Riordan		158,527	33.42
Michael Woo		113,913	24.01
Joel Wachs		52,221	11.01
Richard Katz		46,163	9.73
Linda Griego		34,227	7.22
J. Stanley Sanders		20,077	4.23
Nate Holden		16,166	3.41
Nick Patsaouras		8,352	1.76
Julian Nava		6,705	1.41
Ernani Bernardi		4,735	1.00
Tom Houston		3,538	0.75
Ted Hayes		2,966	0.63
John Borunda		1,118	0.24
Oscar Valdes		811	0.17
Eileen Anderson		794	0.17
"Melrose" Larry Green		676	0.14
Adam Bregman		643	0.14
Randy Pavelko		638	0.13
Leonard Shapiro		554	0.12
Kim Allen		479	0.10
Michael A. Leptuch		335	0.07
Frank Teran		335	0.07
Douglas Carlton		201	0.04
Philip Ashamallah		192	0.04
Total votes		474,366	100.00

General election

Los Angeles mayoral general election, June 8, 1993^[12]

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard Riordan		314,559	53.94
Michael Woo		268,137	46.06
Total votes		582,696	100.00

References and footnotes

1. "Bradley calls it quits". Santa Cruz Sentinel. September 25, 1992.
2. "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT" (PDF). League of Women Voters.
3. "Pack of 52 enters LA mayor race". Santa Cruz Sentinel. January 27, 1993.
4. "Candidates turn up noses at biggest perk of them all". The San Bernardino Sun. March 22, 1993.
5. "L.A. Mayor Race Offers Choice As Riordan, Woo, Woo Voters". Bay Area Reporter. April 15, 1993.
6. Tugend, Tom (June 4, 1993). "Jews split on candidates in L.A. mayoral race". J. The Jewish News of Northern California.
7. "Riordan, Woo spar on eve of LA vote". Santa Cruz Sentinel. June 8, 1993.
8. "LA mayoral race seen as ideological battle". Santa Cruz Sentinel. April 22, 1993.
9. Katz, Lesie (June 11, 1993). "Jews help put Republican mayor into office in L.A." J. The Jewish News of Northern California.
10. Ocamb, Karen (June 17, 1993). "Riordan Wins L.A. Mayor's Race, Promises To Make Gay Appointments". Bay Area Reporter.
11. "Los Angeles Mayor - Primary". Our Campaigns.
12. "Los Angeles Mayor". Our Campaigns.

External links

• Office of the City Clerk, City of Los Angeles