Bernard Parks officially wins City Council District 8 election



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Bernard Parks officially won a third term on the Los Angeles City Council today after the City Clerk’s Office released a final tally giving him 51.21 percent of the vote in the March 8 election.
 
Parks received 9,482 votes, while his closest challenger, Forescee Hogan-Rowles got 8,058 votes, or 43.52 percent, according to the clerk’s figures.

Parks did not wait to declare victory—he announced that he had won on election night after unofficial results gave him 50.89 percent of the vote. Hogan-Rowles, however, did not concede,
saying the number of provisional and vote-by-mail ballots meant that Parks might not have the 50 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff.
 
In a campaign update sent via email, Hogan-Rowles said, “I’m proud of our campaign and the coalition we built together with workers and neighborhood leaders. We came just a few votes away from forcing Bernard Parks into a runoff—even though he used to be one of the most popular leaders in the City.”

She continued, “Our campaign sends an important message to elected leaders like Bernard Parks, who ignore their constituents and the workers who keep our city working: no matter how popular you think you are you can’t take the people for granted.”
 
Photo by Sarah Golden

Read more on this topic:
Hogan-Rowles advocates a run-off election
Bernard Parks celebrates election in Leimert Park
City Council candidates discuss the issues in South LA

Hogan-Rowles advocates a run-off election



imageWhile incumbent Bernard Parks celebrated his supposed victory early Wednesday morning, opponent Forescee Hogan-Rowles said emphatically, “It’s not over.”

Parks garnered 50.89 percent of the vote to Hogan-Rowles’s 43.99 percent. But with 1,800 to 3,000 ballots yet to be counted in Los Angeles City Council District 8, Hogan-Rowles still believes in the possibility of a run-off election.

“While the results of the election are inconclusive as of tonight, I’m proud that we’ve got Bernard Parks on the ropes,” said Hogan-Rowles in a statement Wednesday. “And he’s desperately swinging and missing.

“Given the trends we saw as the results came in tonight, we are in a position to force a runoff.”

Parks’ press secretary Dennis Gleason told Neon Tommy that while the Parks respects Hogan-Rowles’ desire to see all the votes counted, the results of the election will most likely stay the same.

“Based on our number-crunching last night, she would have to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 percent of the remaining ballots,” Gleason said.

Hogan-Rowles expects the final ballot count will come out late Wednesday.

Stay tuned for updates on Intersections South LA.

Intersections South LA was at election parties across South Los Angeles as the drama unfolded Tuesday night. Watch our slideshows and videos from the events:

Hogan-Rowles supporters remain hopeful

Bernard Parks celebrates election in Leimert Park

Herb Wesson takes early lead in District 10 election

Marguerite LaMotte takes steady lead in school board election

Hogan-Rowles supporters remain hopeful



In the hours following the March 8 election, supporters of candidate Forescee Hogan-Rowles gathered at her campaign headquarters on Crenshaw Boulevard.

The mood in the air was hopeful–confident even–as the supporters chanted “Yes, We Can” and “Tonight’s going to be a good night.”

Intersections South LA was there, talking to supporters and chronicling the affair through photographs.

Herb Wesson takes early lead in District 10 election



Music, food, and yellow and black balloons made for a high-spirited evening at the Herb Wesson reelection headquarters in District 10.

The incumbent won outright in his sprawling and diverse district, avoiding a run-off election at a later time.

Wesson said that his first priority after being reelected would be addressing the budget concerns of the city. He acknowledged that the statewide budgets cuts were felt by everyone, but especially in places like District 10 where funds are needed to help “redevelop blighted communities.”

Bernard Parks celebrates election in Leimert Park



“Celebrate good times, com’on!” blares over the PA system as Councilmember Bernard Parks walks into the ballroom of the Regency West. The room is filled with supporters and journalists.

“I have every reason to be optimistic,” said Parks. “We’ve done everything right.”

Right now, the incumbent is ahead 54 percent to competitor Forescee Hogan-Rowles’s 42 percent.

Hogan-Rowles and LaMotte greeted by crowds of supporters



Live-Tweeting on Election Day 2011



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