Warren Furutani, Backed By L.A. Mayor & Unions, Trounced In L.A. Council Bid By Newcomer Joe Buscaino, An L.A. Cop Who Ran As An Outsider Promising New Voice At City Hall & Support For Public Safety Budgets

(Jan. 18, 2012) -- LB area Assemblyman Warren Furutani (D., Carson-LB) was trounced by political newcomer/LAPD officer Joe Buscaino last night (Jan. 17) in a special election to fill the harbor area L.A. City Council seat vacated by [now Congresswoman] Janice Hahn.

With 100% of precincts reporting in unofficial [not yet final] results, Buscaino was elected with 60.69% of the vote (9,734) to Furutani's 39.31% (6,304). Nearly half of all ballots cast (47.13%) were vote by mail.

Now Assemblyman Furutani, elected to the state legislature in 2008, must decide whether he wants to seek a final Assembly term...which would mean facing Assemblyman Isadore Hall.

Furutani's campaign, consulted by Parke Skelton, had endorsements from L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa, the L.A. County Democratic Party and unions including Service Employees International Union 721, the L.A. County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and the California Nurses Association.

Buscaino ran as an outsider, said he'd bring a fresh voice to L.A. City Hall...and promised to protect public safety budgets from cuts. L.A.'s police union contributed to his campaign, as well as L.A. harbor area business groups.