LOS ANGELES, Calif.–Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks officially won a third term today, with the City Clerk’s Office releasing 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.
Jabari Jumaane received 975 votes, or 5.27 percent.
Parks had declared victory 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.
Hogan-Rowles today thanked her supporters for their work on the campaign.
“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,” Hogan-Rowles said. “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.”
Parks’ spokesman–his son, Bernard Parks Jr.–said they were pleased with the outcome.
“We were able to win pretty convincingly, with 70 precincts to her 27, which says a lot, considering the $1.2 million in special interest money spent against us,” he said, referring to organized labor’s support of Hogan-Rowles.
“Everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame. Mrs. Hogan-Rowles is still waiting for hers,” he added.
