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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
2013 Mayoral Race

Greuel, Garcetti Head to May Runoff

Spending by PAC's could prove larger issue as the top two Democrats square off to become Los Angeles' next mayor.

Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel will likely face off in the May 21 election in the race to become the next mayor of Los Angeles.

Greuel, the City Controller, and Garcetti, a councilman representing district 13, each claimed almost a third of the votes cast in Tuesday's election. Both fell short of the 50 percent required to claim victory in the primary.

As of 2:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Garcetti had more than 32 percent of the vote to Greuel's 29 percent, with nearly 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Jan Perry, who represented district nine on the city council, came in third place. Republican candidate Kevin James and Democrat Emanuel Pleitez, who each campaigned against the 'insider' nature of the top Democratic candidates and railed against a 'broken' city hall, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Greuel told supporters gathered at the Los Angeles Brewing Company in downtown L.A., "I will be a mayor for every citizen of LA. I believe not in the quantity of our goods, but in our quality of life."

Garcetti addressed supporters almost simultaneously, but from Avalon nightclub in Hollywood, promising, "Let's get back to work and never forget the dream of this campaign."

Less than three months remain until the May 21 runoff, when Greuel and Garcetti will contend for the city's chief executive position. Top issues from the primary campaign cycle will remain, including the city's $200 million budget deficit, rising pension costs, public safety, education and the environment.

Yet the most salient issue in the next three months of campaining could be campaign finance.

Garcetti vowed not to utilize independent contributions during the primary campaign cycle while Greuel benefited from a political action committee, or PAC, with more than $2 million. The fundraising edge provided the former Dreamworks staffer with the resources to secure television commercials.

A PAC for Garcetti was recently formed, with plans to spend in the months leading up to late May.

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